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BV  255  . B27  1923 

Barclay,  Wade  Crawford,  1874 

A  book  of  worship 


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Digitized  by  the.  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/bookofworshipforOObarc 


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<£>n  €berp  ©ap  of  tije  S?ear 


Compiled  and  Edited 
by 

WADE  CRAWFORD 


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BARCLAY 


tpEtelR«bOR^RB3 


THE  ABINGDON  PRESS 


NEW  YORK 


CINCINNATI 


Copyright,  1923,  by 
WADE  CRAWFORD  BARCLAY 


All  rights  reserved,  including  that  of  translation  into  foreign  languages, 

including  the  Scandinavian 


V 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


The  Bible  text  used  in  this  volume,  except  that  appearing  in  the  “Verse  for  the  Day”  on  pages  27, 
77,  107,  182,  200,  212,  270,  288,  338,  360,  is  taken  from  the  American  Standard  Edition  of  the 
Revised  Bible,  copyright,  1901,  by  Thomas  Nelson  &  Sons,  and  is  used  by  permission. 


TO 

THE  WIFE  AND  MOTHER  OF  OUR  HOME 
WHOSE  SPIRIT  OF  SELF-SACRIFICE,  OF 
FAITH,  OF  ASSURANCE  OF  GOD’S  PRES¬ 
ENCE  AND  OF  HIS  WILLINGNESS  AND 
POWER  TO  MEET  EVERY  NEED  MAKES 
ALL  OF  LIFE  AN  ACT  OF  WORSHIP. 


CONTENTS 


PAGES 

Introduction .  vii 

Aspiration .  1-3  9 

Loyalty .  40-69 

Awe  and  Reverence .  70-87 

Joy .  88-101 

Adoration .  102-118 

Consecration .  1 19-150 

Courage  .  151-159 

Praise .  160-175 

Brotherliness .  176-193 

Faith  and  Hope .  194-233 

Compassion . 234-240 

Comradeship .  241-262 

Obedience .  263-290 

Penitence .  291-305 

Trust .  306-320 

Gratitude .  321—352 

Goodwill .  353-365 

Special  Days .  366-378 


INTRODUCTION 


This  book  is  designed  for  use  in  family  worship  as  a  guide  to  a  brief 
service  as  the  members  of  the  family  surround  the  table  at  the  morning  or 
the  evening  meal. 

How  often  in  recent  years  have  we  heard  ministers  and  others  publicly 
deplore  the  decadence  of  the  hallowed  custom  of  family  worship!  I  have 
long  been  persuaded  that  this  is  due  to  the  changed  conditions  of  our  modern 
life  more  than  to  any  other  one  cause.  There  is  in  these  times  probably 
no  less  appreciation  of  the  importance  and  the  sanctity  of  worship  than  in 
former  times.  Certainly,  vital  religion  is  not  less  prevalent  among  the  people 
generally  nor  is  there  less  sense  of  responsibility  on  the  part  of  parents  for 
the  nurture  of  the  religious  life  of  their  children.  But  conditions  of  life 
have  radically  changed.  There  is  less  of  leisure.  The  members  of  the 
family  are  not  together  in  the  home  for  as  many  hours  of  the  day  as  formerly. 
More  than  for  any  other  reason  family  worship  has  declined  because  people 
have  not  known  how  to  adapt  its  form  to  the  seeming  necessities  of  the 
new  conditions  and  have  not  been  supplied  with  simple,  usable  aids.  Almost 
universally,  Christian  people  assent  to  the  importance  of  the  custom.  The 
majority  freely  express  a  sense  of  regret  that  it  does  not  prevail  in  their 
own  homes.  When  they  are  -asked  why  it  is  not  observed  many  give  as 
a  reason  the  lack  of  sufficient  time  or  of  suitable  time  and  their  own  inability 
to  make  a  service  of  worship  interesting  and  inspiring.  If  these  obstacles 
may  be  overcome,  it  is  possible,  I  believe — if  our  ministers  will  make  the 
effort — to  establish  family  worship  in  the  majority  of  homes  where  both 
husband  and  wife  are  Christian  people  and  in  many  other  homes  where 
only  one  parent  is  a  professing  Christian. 

The  first  reason,  lack  of  sufficient  time,  is  due  in  part  at  least  to  a 
misapprehension.  It  is  possible  for  a  service  of  worship — reverent,  dignified 
and  inspiring — to  be  conducted  in  the  family  circle  in  a  very  brief  space 
of  time,  in  five  minutes  if  it  is  necessary  to  limit  it  to  that,  certainly  in 
eight  to  ten  minutes.  The  most  available  time  is  at  the  morning  or  the 
evening  meal;  either  is  entirely  suitable.  Every  family  ought  to  be  together 
at  one  or  the  other  occasion;  there  can  be  little  sense  of  family  unity  unless 
this  is  made  possible.  There  are  few  families  where  it  would  not  be  possible 
to  extend  the  period  of  one  or  the  other  meal  for  five  to  ten  minutes,  to  call 
the  family  to  the  breakfast  table  ten  minutes  earlier  in  the  morning  or  to 
remain  at  the  table  for  ten  minutes  following  the  evening  meal. 

There  are  two  generally  prevailing  causes  which  give  weight  to  the 
third  reason  for  the  nonobservance  of  family  worship.  The  first  is  that 
most  people  find  difficulty  in  turning  readily  to  appropriate  Scripture  pas¬ 
sages.  They  are  familiar  with  a  few  favorite  chapters.  Apart  from  these 
they  are  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed  in  selecting  brief  readings  which  offer 
variety,  instruction,  and  inspiration.  Granted  that  Christian  people  ought 
to  be  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  Scriptures,  the  fact  remains  that  most 
of  them  are  not.  The  second  cause  of  failure  in  making  the  service  of 

vii 


worship  interesting  and  inspiring  is  the  fact  that  great  numbers  of  Christian 
people  find  expression  in  prayer  difficult.  The  reason  is  not  far  to  seek. 
The  church  has  never  given  attention  to  training  its  young  people  in  ex¬ 
tempore  prayer.  Consequently,  when  the  attempt  is  made  the  language  of 
prayer  is  faltering,  or  if  the  phrases  come  readily,  there  is  likely  to  be  a 
tendency  to  the  repetition  of  time-worn  petitions,  and  the  result  is  stilted, 
formal,  more  or  less  meaningless  utterances.  What  is  needed  in  this  situ¬ 
ation  is  a  manual  of  devotion  designed  especially  for  use  in  family  worship. 
Such  a  manual  I  have  attempted  to  prepare,  with  what  success  I  leave 
those  to  judge  who  use  it  in  the  manner  intended. 

The  Plan 

A  brief  statement  is  in  order  concerning  the  arrangement  of  material. 

A  Thought  for  the  Day  is  suggested  for  each  day  of  the  year.  These 
are  grouped  under  several  general  themes  in  order  that,  through  repetition, 
there  may  be  a  development  of  those  attitudes  which  are  fundamental  in 
worship  and  in  the  nurture  of  the  devotional  life. 

The  Verse  for  the  Day  is  for  memorization.  When  there  are  children 
in  the  home  it  will  usually  be  found  possible  to  enlist  them  in  learning  a 
verse  a  day.  The  value  of  this  for  life  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  In 
this  connection  the  words  of  John  Ruskin  may  well  be  recalled:  “All  that 
I  have  written,  every  greatness  that  there  has  been  in  any  thought  of  mine, 
whatever  has  been  done  in  my  life,  has  been  simply  due  to  the  fact  that 
when  I  was  a  child  my  mother  daily  read  with  me  a  part  of  the  Bible  and 
daily  made  me  learn  a  part  of  it  by  heart.”  Similar  testimony  from  other 
eminent  men  might  readily  be  quoted.  Comparatively  slight  special  emphasis 
will  avail  to  impress  the  verse  on  the  mind,  and  a  few  repetitions  will  make 
it  a  permanent  possession.  Verse  memorization  should  not  be  made  a  task 
and  care  should  be  taken  that  the  children  do  not  regard  it  as  such.  To  do 
it  under  protest  will,  of  course,  detract  from  its  value.  If  the  parents  them¬ 
selves  take  the  trouble  to  memorize  the  verse,  they  will  not  only  find  the 
exercise  profitable  but  will  also  by  their  example  incite  the  children  to 
do  likewise. 

The  Lesson  for  the  Day  will  be  found  in  every  case  to  be  directly  related 
to  the  subject  of  meditation  for  the  day.  All  parts  of  the  Bible  are  repre¬ 
sented.  I  have,  of  course,  drawn  most  heavily  upon  that  supreme  treasury 
of  devotional  expression,  the  Psalms. 

The  quotations  accompanying  the  Scripture  readings  are  varied.  Some 
are  in  the  form  of  comments  upon  the  Scripture;  others  supplement  the 
thought  of  the  biblical  writer.  My  effort  has  been  to  reenforce  and  supple¬ 
ment  the  teaching  of  Scripture  from  a  wide  range  of  ancient  and  modern 
writers — master  minds  of  all  ages. 

The  Prayer  for  the  Day  likewise  is  appropriate  to  the  day’s  thought 
or  theme.  I  recognize  that  custom  and  feeling  differ  concerning  the  use  of 
printed  forms  of  prayer.  With  the  Lord’s  Prayer  universally  used  through¬ 
out  Christendom  it  would  scarcely  seem  that  a  defense  of  the  use  of  prayers 
to  be  read  is  necessary.  It  is  agreed  that  prayer  must  be  sincere  and  come 
from  the  heart,  else  it  is  not  prayer,  but  as  one  has  said  “a  spirit  of  devotion 
does  not  necessarily  imply  the  ability  always  to  give  appropriate  expression 
in  words.”  The  prayers  herein  contained  are  offered  for  the  use  of 
those  who  find  expression  in  prayer  difficult  or  who  at  times  desire  to  turn 

from  an  extempore  prayer  to  the  rich  treasures  of  devotion  found  in  petitions 

•  •  • 
vm 


of  the  friends  of  God  of  all  ages.  Whatever  may  have  been  one’s  custom 
one  should  realize  that  it  is  far  better  reverently  and  thoughtfully  to  read 
a  prayer  that  is  an  expression  of  lofty  thought  and  deep  devotion  than  to 
repeat  phrases  so  worn  and  trite  that  they  are  empty  and  almost  meaningless. 

Suggestions  as  to  the  Method  of  Use 

My  purpose  has  been  to  make  possible  participation  by  all  members 
of  the  family.  The  ideal  should  be  for  everyone  to  have  an  active  part. 
Only  as  actual  participation  is  secured,  either  audible  or  silent,  does  the 
service  really  become  family  worship.  While  one  may  follow  the  entire 
service  attentively  without  audibly  taking  part  in  it,  participation  on  the 
part  of  all  is  much  more  certain  if  each  has  some  audible  part.  One,  for 
example,  may  read  the  Scripture,  a  second  read  the  accompanying  selection, 
all  together  repeat  the  verse  for  the  day,  and  a  third,  perhaps  usually  the 
father,  offer  the  prayer.  Or,  one  of  the  older  children  may  read  the  printed 
prayer  and  the  father  or  mother  follow  with  a  few  sentences  of  extempore 
prayer.  Always  it  is  in  order  for  all  to  repeat  together  the  Lord’s  Prayer 
or  seme  familiar  words  of  grace. 

Following  the  service,  appropriate  conversation  should  be  encouraged. 
Some  comment  on  the  Scripture  or  the  accompanying  quotation  in  line 
with  the  thought  for  the  day  may  be  made  in  such  a  way  as  to  stimulate 
conversation.  Either  parent  may  ask  a  question  or  perhaps  a  series  of 
questions  designed  to  develop  a  group  judgment  on  the  thought  for  the 
day.  Some  effort  may  be  required,  but,  even  so,  is  it  not  worth  while  if 
thereby  dignified,  reverent,  thoughtful  conversation  may  take  the  place  of 
the  gossip  and  nonsense  which  so  often  form  the  staple  of  table  talk,  even 
in  intelligent  Christian  family  circles? 

A  More  Personal  Word 

Credit  for  the  plan  of  this  book  is  very  largely  due  to  my  revered 
personal  friend,  the  late  Bishop  John  H.  Vincent.  Years  ago,  through  the 
use  in  our  own  home  of  his  The  Table  Altar:  Meditations  for  a  Month  of 
Mornings ,  the  thought  came  to  me  that  a  more  extended  work  consisting 
not  merely  of  Scripture  readings  and  prayers  for  a  month  but  of  more  elab¬ 
orated  services  for  an  entire  }^ear  would  be  a  valuable  means  of  cultivating 
the  spirit  of  devotion  in  the  homes  of  Christian  people.  Gradually  the 
plan  of  the  present  book  was  evolved  and  long  ago  the  collection  of  material 
was  begun.  The  work  of  compilation  has  occupied  fragments  of  time 
through  the  intervening  years — evening  hours  as  a  change  from  the  routine 
of  the  day’s  work,  days  of  vacation,  odd  hours  and  margins  of  time  on 
trains  or  in  stations  waiting  for  connections — always  a  labor  of  love  and 
a  means  of  devotion. 

A  wide  variety  of  sources  has  been  drawn  upon  for  the  prayers  as  well 
as  for  the  readings  which  accompany  the  Scripture  selections.  Some  few 
of  the  prayers  date  from  the  Middle  Ages — those,  for  example,  from  the 
Mozarabic  Sacramentary  (known  to  have  been  in  circulation  before  700 
A.D.),  from  Saint  Anselm,  Thomas  a  Kempis,  and  others.  The  period  of 
the  Reformation  is  represented  by  prayers  of  Martin  Luther,  Melanchthon, 
Calvin,  and  Knox.  The  era  of  the  Evangelical  revival  supplies  a  few,  includ¬ 
ing  several  of  the  prayers  of  John  Wesley  and  of  Whitefield.  Through 
their  devout  petitions  many  of  the  scholars  and  popular  religious  leaders  of 
the  nineteenth  century  now  fallen  on  sleep,  though  they  are  dead,  yet  speak. 


IX 


Selections  have  been  taken  from  more  than  fifty  collections  of  prayers,  the 
larger  number  of  which,  out  of  print,  are  accessible  only  in  libraries;  some, 
by  the  generous  permission  of  compilers  and  publishers,  are  from  books  printed 
in  recent  years  and  still  in  circulation.  These  are  listed  in  the  acknowledg¬ 
ment,  elsewhere  printed.  Some  of  the  prayers  which  are  printed  without 
credit  I  have  been  unable  to  identify;  some  I  have  adapted  from  various 
sources  and  others  I  have  myself  written. 

In  the  process  of  editing  prayers  from  the  agelong  literature  of  devotion 
I  have  not  ventured  to  make  many  editorial  changes,  even  though  in  some 
cases  the  language  is  somewhat  archaic,  except  to  abbreviate  those  which 
in  their  original  form  were  too  long,  or  to  change  from  the  singular  to 
the  plural,  in  order  to  adapt  to  family  worship,  prayers  which  in  the  original 
were  the  expression  of  individual  aspiration,  praise,  or  petition. 

Wade  Crawford  Barclay. 


x 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 


The  publication  of  A  Book  of  W orship  as  issued  would  have  been 
impossible  without  the  generous  cooperation  of  authors  and  publishers  who 
have  given  permission  for  the  use  of  copyrighted  material. 

Special  acknowledgment  is  due  to  the  following: 

A.  S.  Barnes  &  Co.  for 

W.  Russell  Bowie — Hymn,  “O  Holy  City,  Seen  of  John,”  from 
Social  Hymns. 

Robert  Davis — Hymn,  “I  Thank  Thee,  Lord,  for  Strength  of 
Arm,”  from  Social  Hymns. 

Congregational  Publishing  Society  for 

Walter  Rauschenbusch — Prayers,  from  Prayers  of  the  Social 
Awakening. 

The  Continent  for 

Henry  van  Dyke — Hymn,  “O  Lord,  Our  God,  Thy  Mighty 
Hand.” 

William  P.  Merrill — Hymn,  “We  Knelt  Before  Kings.” 

Hymn,  “Rise  Up,  O  Men  of  God.” 
Thomas  Y.  Crowell  Company  for 

J.  R.  Miller — Prayer,  “O  God,  Our  Heavenly  Father,  We  Thy 
Children  Come  Now  to  Thy  Feet.” 

Detroit  Free  Press  for 

Elizabeth  York  Case — “There  is  No  Unbelief.” 

Dodd,  Mead  &  Co.  for 

Lyman  Abbott — Prayers,  from  For  Family  TV  orship. 

Samuel  McComb — Prayers,  from  A  Book  of  Prayers  for  Public 
and  Personal  Use. 

George  H.  Doran  Company  for 

John  Oxenham — “A  Little  Word,”  from  The  Vision  Splendid. 
Harper  &  Brothers  for 

Edward  S.  Martin — “I  pray  thee,  Lord,  when  it  comes  to  me.” 
PIoughton  Mifflin  Company  (by  permission  of  and  by  special 
arrangement) . 

John  Hay — “Not  in  dumb  resignation  we  lift  our  hands  on  high.” 
James  Russell  Lowell — “And  for  success  I  ask  no  more  than  this.” 

— “For  this  true  nobleness  I  seek  in  vain.” 

— “Count  me  o’er  life’s  chosen  heroes.” 

— “Then  to  side  with  truth  is  noble.” 

— “Have  ye  founded  your  thrones  and  altars 
then,”  from  A  Parable. 

— “The  Holy  Supper  Is  Kept  Indeed,”  from 
The  Vision  of  Sir  Launfal. 

E.  R.  Sill — “Forenoon  and  afternoon,  and  night.” 

— “Yet  we  must  give  the  children  leave  to  use.” 

Ralph  Waldo  Emerson — “For  flowers  that  bloom  about  our  feet.” 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes — Hymn,  “O  Love  Divine.” 


xi 


Little,  Brown  &  Company  for 

Dillon  Bronson — Prayer  from  The  Optimist’s  Good  Morning. 

Edward  Everett  Hale  —  Prayer  from  The  Optimist’s  Good 
M  orning. 

Lothrop,  Lee,  and  Shepard  Company  for 

Sam  Walter  Foss — “Let  Me  Live  in  a  House  by  the  Side  of  the 
Road,’’  from  Dreams  in  Homespun. 

Edwin  Markham  for 

— “The  crest  and  crowning  of  all  good,”  from  The  Man  with  the 
Hoe  and  Other  Poems. 

Missionary  Education  Movement  for 

Robert  W.  Rogers — Prayer,  For  Peace,  from  Thy  Kingdom  Come. 

Charles  Stelzle — Prayer,  For  Workingmen,  from  Thy  Kingdom 
Come. 

Sidney  L.  Gulick — Prayer,  For  International  Brotherhood,  from 
Thy  Kingdom  Come. 

Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication  and  Sabbath  Scliool  Work 
for 

Andrew  C.  Zenos — Prayer,  “O  Thou  Whose  Name  Is  Love,”  from 
Day  After  Day. 

Fi  /EMing  H.  Revell  Company  for 

Henry  Ward  Beecher — Prayers,  from  A  Book  of  Public  Prayer. 

Survey  Associates  for 

W.  Russell  Bowie — Hymn,  “God  of  the  Nations  Who  from 
Dawn  of  Days.” 

Marland  W.  Rollins  for 

Alice  Wellington  Rollins — “My  faith  begins  where  your  religion 
ends.” 

Yale  University  Press  for 

William  Alexander  Percy — “I  heard  a  bird  at  break  of  day.” 

Many  verses  and  prose  quotations  have  been  taken  from  books  and 
periodicals  which  give  no  indication  of  original  source.  Effort  has  been 
made  without  success  to  identify  quotations  printed  anonymously.  Possibly 
in  spite  of  the  precaution  taken,  in  some  few  cases  there  may  have  been 
failure  to  obtain  permission  for  the  use  of  copyrighted  material.  If,  due  to 
oversight  or  error,  any  copyright  has  been  inadvertently  infringed,  I  can  only 
express  sincere  regret  and  apology. 

A  large  number  of  quotations,  both  prose  and  verse,  and  by  far  the 
larger  proportion  of  the  prayers  are  from  British  and  other  foreign  authors. 
Heavy  draft  has  been  made  upon  the  writings  of  Robert  Browning,  Eliza¬ 
beth  Barrett  Browning,  Charles  Kingsley,  Richard  Chenevix  Trench,  George 
Macdonald,  John  Henry  Newman,  F.  W.  Robertson,  Arthur  P.  Stanley, 
John  Ruskin,  Frederick  W.  Faber,  William  Cowper,  F.  W.  Farrar,  F.  D. 
Maurice,  George  Herbert,  and  numerous  other  writers  of  note. 

Among  the  manuals  of  devotion  and  collections  of  prayers  published  in 
Great  Britain  which  have  been  used  as  sources,  the  following  are  noted : 
Ancient  Collects,  Bright,  London;  Collection  of  Prayers,  Bunsen,  London, 
1871  I  The  Book  of  Private  Devotion,  A  Series  of  Prayers  and  Meditations, 
chiefly  from  the  writings  of  Hannah  More,  Robert  Carter  and  Brothers, 
London,  1869;  The  Daily  Prayer  Book,  Stoughton,  London,  Hodder  and 
Stoughton,  1870;  Prayers ,  by  George  Dawson,  London,  Kegan  Paul,  Trench 


xu 


&  Co.,  1882;  Family  Prayers  of  the  Church  of  Scotland ,  Edinburgh,  William 
Blackwood  &  Sons,  1870;  Home  Prayers ,  by  James  Martineau,  London, 
Longmans,  Green  &  Co.,  1913;  Prayers  from  the  Poets,  Magnus,  Edin¬ 
burgh  and  London,  William  Blackwood  &  Sons,  1899. 

To  all  those  who  have  contributed  to  the  enrichment  of  this  manual 
of  devotions  the  thanks  of  the  compiler  are  hereby  extended. 


c 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  i 

iSetones#  ot  Hitt  tn  CSttsrt 


(Ot  tjjt  “Wherefore  if  any  man  is  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new 

creature:  the  old  things  are  passed  away;  behold,  they  are  become  new.” 
— 2  Corinthians  5-  I7* 

JLt&$on  (ot  tfjt  &>ag:  Philip  plans  3.  7-^12. 

7  Howbeit  what  things  were  gain  to  me,  these  have  I  counted 
loss  for  Christ.  8  Yea  verily,  and  I  count  all  things  to  be  loss 
for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord:  for 
whom  I  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things,  and  do  count  them  but 
refuse,  that  I  may  gain  Christ,  9  and  be  found  in  him,  not  having 
a  righteousness  of  mine  own,  even  that  which  is  of  the  law,  but 
that  which  is  through  faith  in  Christ,  the  righteousness  which  is 
from  God  by  faith:  10  that  I  may  know  him,  and  the  power  of  his 
resurrection,  and  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  becoming  con¬ 
formed  unto  his  death;  n  if  by  any  means  I  may  attain  unto  the 
resurrection  from  the  dead.  12  Not  that  I  have  already  obtained, 
or  am  already  made  perfect:  but  I  press  on,  if  so  be  that  I  may 
lay  hold  on  that  for  which  also  I  was  laid  hold  on  by  Christ  Jesus. 


“Let  us  pray  for  a  new  birth,  not  as  one  experience,  but  as  the  perpetual  experience 
of  our  lives;  for  such  nearness  to  our  God  that  every  day  he  shall  give  us  something 
more  of  himself,  be  something  more  to  us,  so  that  being  ourselves  forever  new,  the 
whole  world  may  forever  have  richness  and  abundance  and  variety  and  beauty  and 
interest  and  joy  and  education  to  give  us,  as  long  as  we  live.  So  may  we  enter  upon 
a  new  year  with  the  promise  of  a  new  life.” — Phillips  Brooks. 

“I  call  on  you  to  give  this  day  to  a  serious  review  of  your  life,  of  what  you  have 
been  living  for,  and  of  what  you  purpose  henceforth  to  live  for.  Give  one  day  to  this, 
and  let  it  be  this  first  day  of  the  year:  at  least  begin  the  year  aright.  Here  you  stand 
at  the  parting  of  the  ways:  some  road  you  are  to  take;  and  as  you  stand  here,  con¬ 
sider  and  know  how  it  is  that  you  intend  to  live.  Carry  no  bad  habits,  no  corrupt¬ 
ing  associations,  no  enmities  and  strifes,  into  this  new  year.  Leave  these  behind, 
and  let  the  dead  Past  bury  its  dead;  leave  them  behind,  and  thank  God  that  you  are 
able  to  leave  them.” — Ephraim  Peabody. 

^ZZilpZZ  (0t  tjjt  “Our  heavenly  Father,  thou  who  art  the  eternal 

and  unchangeable  God,  with  whom  there  is  no  beginning  of  days  or  end  of 
years,  we  humble  ourselves  in  the  presence  of  him  who  liveth  forever  and 
ever.  With  gratitude  in  our  hearts  and  thanksgiving  upon  our  lips,  our 
Father,  we  look  back  on  all  the  way  whereby  thou  hast  led  us,  and  on  all 
the  benefits  which  we  have  received  at  thy  bountiful  hand.  From  day  to 
day,  and  from  year  to  year,  thou  hast  preserved  our  lives  and  given  us  richly  all 
things  to  enjoy.  With  thankfulness  we  acknowledge  that  hitherto  thou 
hast  helped  us,  and  that  goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  us  all  the  days 
of  our  lives.  Impart  unto  us  the  grace  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  whereby  we  may 
be  enabled  to  bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance,  and  by  sober,  righteous 
and  godly  lives  to  glorify  thy  blessed  name.  Renew  us,  O  God,  in  the  spirit 
of  our  minds  and  grant  that  at  this  new  year  we  may  realize  newness  of  life 
in  Christ,  our  Lord.  For  his  Name’s  sake.”  Amen. 


1 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  2 

Heatmng  to  pta# 


fOt  tj)C  SDitpt  “Lord,  teach  us  to  pray.” — Luke  n.  I. 
n  tot  tfje&ap:  Matthew  6.  5—15. 

5  And  when  ye  pray,  ye  shall  not  be  as  the  hypocrites:  for 
they  love  to  stand  and  pray  in  the  synagogues  and  in  the  corners 
of  the  streets,  that  they  may  be  seen  of  men.  Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  They  have  received  their  reward.  6  But  thou,  when  thou 
prayest,  enter  into  thine  inner  chamber,  and  having  shut  thy  door, 
pray  to  thy  Father  who  is  in  secret,  and  thy  Father  who  seeth 
in  secret  shall  recompense  thee.  7  And  in  praying  use  not  vain 
repetitions,  as  the  Gentiles  do:  for  they  think  that  they  shall  be 
heard  for  their  much  speaking.  8  Be  not  therefore  like  unto  them: 
for  your  Father  knoweth  what  things  ye  have  need  of  before  ye 
ask  him.  9  After  this  manner  therefore  pray  ye:  Our  Father  who 
art  in  heaven,  Hallowed  be  thy  name.  10  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy 
will  be  done,  as  in  heaven  so  on  earth.  11  Give  us  this  day  our 
daily  bread.  12  And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  also  have  forgiven 
our  debtors.  13  And  bring  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us 
from  the  evil  one.  14  For  if  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses,  your 
heavenly  Father  will  also  forgive  you.  15  But  if  ye  forgive  not 
men  their  trespasses,  neither  will  your  Father  forgive  your  tres¬ 
passes. 


“We  doubt  the  word  that  tells  us, — Ask, 

And  ye  shall  have  your  prayer; 

We  turn  our  thoughts  as  to  a  task, 

With  will  constrained  and  rare. 

“And  yet  we  have;  these  scanty  prayers 
Yield  gold  without  alloy; 

O  God!  but  he  that  trusts  and  dares 
Must  have  a  boundless  joy.” 

— George  Macdonald. 


“We  pray  without  ceasing  when  we  unceasingly  retain  true  love  and  true  desire 
in  our  hearts.  Love,  hidden  in  the  soul,  prays  constantly,  even  when  the  mind  is 
drawn  another  way.” — Anonymous. 


^btoytt  fOL  “O  Lord,  we  know  not  what  we  should  ask  of 

thee.  Thou  only  knowest  what  we  need ;  and  thou  lovest  us  better  than  we 
can  love  ourselves.  O  Lord,  give  to  us,  who  desire  to  be  thy  children,  what 
is  proper,  whatsoever  it  may  be.  We  dare  not  ask  either  crosses  or  com¬ 
forts.  We  only  present  ourselves  before  thee;  we  open  our  hearts  to  thee. 
Behold,  our  wants,  which  we  are  ignorant  of :  but  do  thou  behold,  and  do 
according  to  thy  mercy.  Smite  or  heal ;  depress  or  raise  up ;  we  adore  all 
thy  purposes,  without  knowing  them;  we  are  silent,  we  offer  ourselves  in 
sacrifice.  We  abandon  ourselves  to  thee,  having  no  greater  desire  than  to 
accomplish  thy  will.  Teach  us  to  pray.  Pray  thou  thyself  in  us.”  Amen. — 
Fenelon  (1651-1715). 


2 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  3 

TSiblz  &£  a  Source  ot  pergonal  potoet 


U£tg£  tot  tf)£  SDa^t  “Take  .  .  .  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which 

is  the  word  of  God.” — Ephesians  6.  17. 

2£eggon  tot  t fit  2Dag:  Psalm  19.  7-1 1. 

7  The  law  of  Jehovah  is  perfect,  restoring  the  soul: 

The  testimony  of  Jehovah  is  sure,  making  wise  the  simple. 

8  The  precepts  of  Jehovah  are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart: 
The  commandment  of  Jehovah  is  pure,  enlightening  the 

eyes. 

9  The  fear  of  Jehovah  is  clean,  enduring  for  ever: 

The  ordinances  of  Jehovah  are  true,  and  righteous  alto¬ 
gether. 

10  More  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea,  than  much  fine 

gold; 

Sweeter  also  than  honey  and  the  droppings  of  the  honey¬ 
comb. 

11  Moreover  by  them  is  thy  servant  warned: 

In  keeping  them  there  is  great  reward. 


“There  are  great  problems  before  the  American  people.  There  are  problems 
which  need  purity  of  spirit  and  integrity  of  purpose  such  as  have  never  been  called 
for  before  in  the  history  of  this  country.  I  should  be  afraid  to  go  forward  if  I  did  not 
believe  that  there  lay  at  the  foundation  of  all  our  schooling  and  of  all  our  thought  this 
incomparable  and  unimpeachable  Word  of  God.  If  we  cannot  derive  our  strength 
thence,  there  is  no  source  from  which  we  can  derive  it,  and  so  I  would  bid  you  go  from 
this  place,  if  I  may,  inspired  once  more  with  the  feeling  that  the  providence  of  God 
is  the  foundation  of  affairs,  and  that  only  those  can  guide,  and  only  those  can  follow, 
who  take  this  providence  of  God  from  the  sources  where  it  is  authentically  interpreted. 

“I  beseech  all  my  fellow  believers  to  ponder  this  matter.  By  the  blessing  of  God, 
I  ascribe  to  Bible  study  the  help  and  strength  which  I  have  had  from  God  to  pass  in 
peace  through  deeper  trials,  in  various  ways,  than  I  had  ever  had  before;  and  after 
having  now  above  fourteen  years  tried  this  way,  I  can  most  fully,  invthe  fear  of  God, 
commend  it.  A  soul  that  has  been  refreshed  and  made  happy  early  in  the  morning 
meets  the  service,  the  trials,  and  the  temptations  of  the  day  with  a  power  how  differ¬ 
ent  from  that  of  one  that  has  had  no  spiritual  preparation.” — Woodrow  Wilson. 

Pta^tt  (Ot  tl)£  jSDajL  “We  thank  thee,  O  heavenly  Father,  for  thy  holy 
Word.  Imprint  and  seal  it,  O  God,  in  our  hearts,  that  we  may  act  by  it; 
and  live  and  die  by  it.  Grant  us  to  grow  and  increase  day  by  day  in  the 
knowledge  of  thee;  and  let  not  this  knowledge  be  ours  alone,  but  let  it  be 
spread  abroad  among  other  nations,  that  it  may  touch  and  water  our  hearts 
and  those  of  all  our  fellow  men,  even  as  the  rain  and  the  snow  water  and 
fertilize  the  earth.  So  may  we  learn  to  know  thee,  the  Eternal  God,  aright, 
to  call  on  thee  and  to  praise  thee;  and  grant  us  in  whatever  we  do  or  leave 
undone  to  make  thy  holy  commandments  our  guiding  rule.  O  thou  all-suf¬ 
ficient  God,  in  thee  alone  can  our  hearts  find  rest,  and  in  thy  favor  is  our 
highest  joy.  Lord,  if  we  have  thee,  we  have  enough.  Thy  favor  is  life.  Keep 
us  in  this  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding.  Strengthen  us  in  all  trials 
by  the  inner  comfort  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  and  grant  us  at  last  to  behold  thy 
face  in  righteousness,  and  to  be  satisfied  from  thy  eternal  fullness.”  Amen. 

3 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  4 

iprapet  to i  fyt  €f\ui cj 


tot  tfje  £Da#:  “I  commend  you  to  God,  and  to  the  word  of  his 
grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you  the  inheritance 
among  all  them  that  are  sanctified.” — Acts  20.  32. 

Acts  14.  19-23. 

19  But  there  came  Jews  thither  from  Antioch  and  Iconium: 
and  having  persuaded  the  multitudes,  they  stoned  Paul,  and 
dragged  him  out  of  the  city,  supposing  that  he  was  dead.  20  But 
as  the  disciples  stood  round  about  him,  he  rose  up  and  entered 
into  the  city:  and  on  the  morrow  he  went  forth  with  Barnabas 
to  Derbe.  21  And  when  they  had  preached  the  gospel  to  that 
city,  and  had  made  many  disciples,  they  returned  to  Lystra,  and  to 
Iconium,  and  to  Antioch,  22  confirming  the  souls  of  the  disciples, 
exhorting  them  to  continue  in  the  faith,  and  that  through  many 
tribulations  we  must  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  23  And  when 
they  had  appointed  for  them  elders  in  every  church,  and  had 
prayed  with  fasting,  they  commended  them  to  the  Lord,  on  whom 
they  had  believed. 


“Oh!  where  are  kings  and  empires  now 
Of  old  that  went  and  came? 

But,  Lord,  thy  church  is  praying  yet, 

A  thousand  years  the  same.” 

“Let  not  our  hearts  be  troubled.  The  Church  of  Christ  was  not  built  on  the 
shifting  sand,  but  founded  deep  in  the  living  rock.  Century  after  century  the  rain 
has  descended  and  the  floods  risen,  and  the  winds  blown  and  beaten  upon  it.  Century 
after  century  the  tide  of  assaulting  criticism  has  ebbed,  to  rush  up  again  with  fiercer 
surges  and  more  apparently  resistless  force.  But  look  again.  The  rock  is  there,  un¬ 
shaken  still.  It  is  but  the  blustering  waves  which  have  been  shattered  into  spray, 
and  dashed  into  a  briny  mist  upon  the  winds.” — Frederick  IV.  Farrar. 

/ 

Pt Olfftt  f0t  t!)C  “O  our  Father,  bless  us  and  make  us  a  blessing. 

May  our  conduct  be  such  as  becometh  thy  servants  and  thy  children.  May 
religion  be  a  reality  with  us.  May  it  be  our  stay  in  trouble,  our  support 
through  life  and  the  very  joy  of  our  hearts.  May  we  not  only  be  Chris¬ 
tians  but  holy,  happy,  rejoicing  Christians.  Give  us  that  best  of  all  knowl¬ 
edge,  to  know  thee  the  only  true  God  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent. 
Bless  the  church  to  which  we  belong  and  make  us  true  and  faithful  mem¬ 
bers  of  it.  Be  with  the  bishops  and  pastors  of  thy  flock.  Give  them  wisdom 
and  piety  and  singleness  of  heart.  Clothe  thy  ministers  with  righteousness. 

O  thou  great  and  good  Shepherd,  be  with  those  whom  thou  sendest  forth 

and  enable  them  faithfully  to  feed  the  flocks  committed  to  their  care.  Let 
thy  blessing  rest  upon  every  member  of  our  church,  especially  those  with 
whom  we  worship.  Add  to  their  number  daily  such  as  shall  be  saved.  Heal, 

O  Lord,  the  unhappy  divisions  of  thy  church  and  make  us  more  united. 

Hasten  the  time  when  we  shall  be  one  fold,  under  one  Shepherd.  Lord,  hear 
us,  and  bless  us,  and  be  with  us,  for  our  Saviour’s  sake.”  Amen. — Ashton 
Oxenden.  Adapted  (1808-1892). 


4 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  5 

8e  £>ouV0  f&tiiz&t  anti  &>attetaction 


$££££  (Ot  tf)£  SDa^t  “My  soul  thirsteth  for  God,  for  the  living  God.” — 
Psalm  42.  2. 

fot  tljt  £Dag:  Psalm  63.  1—7. 

1  O  God,  thou  art  my  God ;  earnestly  will  I  seek  thee : 

My  soul  thirsteth  for  thee,  my  flesh  longeth  for  thee, 

In  a  dry  and  weary  land,  where  no  water  is. 

2  So  have  I  looked  upon  thee  in  the  sanctuary, 

To  see  thy  power  and  thy  glory. 

3  Because  thy  loving-kindness  is  better  than  life, 

My  lips  shall  praise  thee. 

4  So  will  I  bless  thee  while  I  live: 

I  will  lift  up  my  hands  in  thy  name. 

5  My  soul  shall  be  satisfied  as  with  marrow  and  fatness; 

And  my  mouth  shall  praise  thee  with  joyful  lips; 

6  When  I  remember  thee  upon  my  bed, 

And  meditate  on  thee  in  the  night-watches. 

7  For  thou  hast  been  my  help, 

And  in  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  rejoice. 


“Do  we  thirst  for  God?  As  the  days  and  months  and  years  pass,  do  we  ever  look 
out  of  and  beyond  ourselves  upon  that  vast  ocean  of  Uncreated  Life  which  encircles 
us,  which  penetrates  our  inmost  selves?  Do  we  ever  think  steadily,  so  as  to  dwell 
with  a  real  intellectual  interest,  upon  him  who  is  the  first  and  highest  of  Truths,  to 
whose  free  bounty  we  ourselves  owe  the  gift  of  existence,  and  to  whom  we  must  one 
day  account  for  our  use  of  it?  Do  we  ever  sincerely  desire  to  love  him,  and  to  live 
for  him,  or  are  we  hurrying  along  our  solitary  path,  from  one  vanishing  shape  toward 

another,  while  we  neglect  the  Alone  Unchangeable?  Be  sure  that  if  we  will,  in  God 

revealed  in  Christ,  the  soul  may  slake  the  thirst  of  the  ages;  and  the  dreariest,  and 

darkest,  and  most  restless  existence  may  find  illumination  and  peace.’’ 

— Henry  Parry  Liddon. 


y&ZSiytZ  fOt  “O  God  of  our  life,  thou  who  hast  created  us,  our 

souls  thirst  for  thee.  Apart  from  thee  we  find  no  enduring  satisfaction. 
We  cannot  feed  our  souls  on  material  things.  In  thee  alone  do  we  find  the 
answer  to  our  needs.  Satisfy  us  early  with  thy  mercy.  Pour  out  thy  Spirit 
on  all  who  seek  thee,  that  they  may  praise  thee  who  art  the  health  of  their 
countenance.  Unto  them  that  fear  thy  name  may  the  Sun  of  Righteousness 
arise  with  healing  in  his  wings.  When  the  enemies  of  our  faith  reproach  us, 
and  we  are  sorely  cast  down,  forget  us  not.  Chase  away  the  shadows  of 
doubt  and  give  us  songs  in  the  night.  Visit  those  who  are  in  the 
far  land  of  sorrow  and  trouble  and  all  whose  sins  have  made  them  exiles 
from  thy  joy.  When  deep  calleth  to  deep,  and  all  thy  waves  and  billows  go 
over  their  souls,  remember  them,  and  bring  them  again  into  the  light  of  thy 
presence.  Magnify  thy  righteousness  and  thy  grace  in  every  land.  Accom¬ 
pany  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  with  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  power 
from  on  high ;  and  fulfill  the  purpose  of  thy  love  and  establish  thy  kingdom. 
We  ask  it  in  the  everlasting  name.”  Amen. 

5 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  6 

CSrtet  &&  tfjt  ^EDrutfi 

tPtz&t  for  tfie  Soap:  “I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life.” — 
John  14.  6. 

fLt&gon  fot  tfjeSDap:  John  1.14—18. 

14  And  the  Word  became  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us  (and  we 
beheld  his  glory,  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  from  the  Father), 
full  of  grace  and  truth.  15  John  beareth  witness  of  him,  and 
crieth,  saying,  This  was  he  of  whom  I  said,  He  that  cometh  after 
me  is  become  before  me:  for  he  was  before  me.  16  For  of  his 
fulness  we  all  received,  and  grace  for  grace.  17  For  the  law  was 
given  through  Moses;  grace  and  truth  came  through  Jesus  Christ. 
18  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time;  the  only  begotten  Son, 
who  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  declared  him. 


“The  Gospel  of  John  tells  us  most  of  what  we  want  to  know  about  the  mind  of 
Jesus.  The  word  ‘truth’  is  found  upon  the  lips  of  Jesus  only  in  that  book.  ...  A  word 
of  Jesus  which  most  impressed  the  most  sympathetic  and  spiritual  of  his  disciples  will 
admit  us  into  his  heart.  It  is  a  word  of  the  intellect.  When  we  find  it  constantly  in 
the  record  of  that  disciple  who  understood  him  best,  we  know  that  he  cared  for  the 
intellect  of  man,  that  he  was  not  satisfied  simply  to  win  man’s  affection  by  kindness, 
or  govern  man’s  will  by  authority,  but  also  wished  to  persuade  man’s  mind  with  truth.” 
— Phillips  Brooks. 


“I  have  come  back  again  and  again  to  an  intensive  study  of  Jesus  at  intervals 
of  years,  and  every  time  he  has  been  to  me  a  fresh  revelation,  bringing  to  me  a  sense 
of  mental  exhilaration  and  a  new  sense  of  joy  in  truth.  The  main  thing  to  me  is  the 
personality  of  Jesus,  his  religious  and  ethical  insight  into  the  nature  and  needs  of  the 
social  life  of  mankind,  the  vital  power  of  religious  conviction  which  he  was  able  to 
put  behind  righteousness,  and  the  historical  force  which  he  set  going  through  history.” 
—  Walter  Rauschenbusch. 

pta yet  tot  t fit  SDap:  “  O  Lord,  we  worship  thee  as  the  Eternal  Wisdom. 
Thou  art  the  incarnate  Word,  the  divine  Truth  of  God,  through  whom 

grace  and  truth  came  to  man.  No  other  voice  like  thine  has  been  heard 

in  all  the  ages.  Thou  art  the  teacher  come  from  God.  Help  us,  we  pray 
thee,  that  we  may  have  open  minds  and  eager  hearts.  May  our  souls  be 
attentive  and  obedient  to  thy  teaching  and  guidance.  Be  thou  to  us  the  way, 
the  truth,  and  the  life.  So  shall  we  find  in  thee  the  answer  to  our  every 

need.  So  shalt  thou  be  to  us  our  all  and  in  all.  If  our  lives  here  may 

be  filled  with  truth;  if  we  may  follow  thee  every  day,  living  as  thou  wouldst 
have  us  live,  loving  what  thou  wouldst  have  us  love — if,  indeed,  thou  mayst 
live  again  in  us,  then  shall  thy  kingdom  be  come  in  us,  then  shall  heaven 
be  begun  below.  Even  so  come,  Lord  Jesus.  We  worship  thee,  we  wait 
for  thee,  we  adore  thee,  we  acknowledge  thee  as  Lord  and  Saviour.  Blessed 
Master,  hear  our  prayer.”  Amen. 


6 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  7 

Cfje  Character  C3ots  Ifttqtuteg 


tot  tf)l£  SDajU  “He  hath  showed  thee,  O  man,  what  is  good;  and 
what  doth  Jehovah  require  of  thee,  but  to  do  justly,  and  to  love  kindness, 
and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God?” — Micah  6.  8. 

£on  tot  t!)c  £>ap:  Psalm  15. 

1  Jehovah,  who  shall  sojourn  in  thy  tabernacle? 

Who  shall  dwell  in  thy  holy  hill? 

2  He  that  walketh  uprightly,  and  worketh  righteousness, 
And  speaketh  truth  in  his  heart; 

3  He  that  slandereth  not  with  his  tongue, 

Nor  doeth  evil  to  his  friend, 

Nor  taketh  up  a  reproach  against  his  neighbor; 

4  In  whose  eyes  a  reprobate  is  despised, 

But  who  honoreth  them  that  fear  Jehovah; 

He  that  sweareth  to  his  own  hurt,  and  changeth  not; 

5  He  that  putteth  not  out  his  money  to  interest. 

Nor  taketh  reward  against  the  innocent. 

He  that  doeth  these  things  shall  never  be  moved. 


“Think  truly,  and  thy  thoughts 
Shall  the  world’s  lamine  feed; 

Speak  truly,  and  each  word  of  thine 
Shall  be  a  fruitful  seed; 

Live  truly,  and  thy  life  shall  be 
A  great  and  noble  creed.” 

— Horatius  Bonar. 


“Live  for  something.  Do  good,  and  leave  behind  you  a  monument  of  virtue 
that  the  storm  of  time  can  never  destroy.  Write  your  name  in  kindness,  love,  and 
mercy  on  the  hearts  of  thousands  you  come  into  contact  with  year  after  year.  Good 
deeds  will  shine  as  the  stars  of  heaven.” — Thomas  Chalmers. 

fOt  tf)C  “Lord,  work  in  our  hearts  a  true  faith,  a  purifying 

hope,  and  an  unfeigned  love  toward  thee;  give  us  a  full  trust  on  thee,  zeal 
for  thee,  reverence  of  all  things  that  relate  to  thee.  Make  us  fearful  to 
offend  thee,  thankful  for  thy  mercies,  humble  under  thy  corrections,  devout 
in  thy  service,  and  sorrowful  for  our  sins,  and  grant  that  in  all  things  we 
may  behave  ourselves  so,  as  befits  a  creature  to  his  Creator,  a  servant  to 
his  Lord.  .  .  .  Make  us  diligent  in  all  our  duties,  watchful  against 
all  temptations,  perfectly  pure  and  temperate,  and  so  moderate  in  thy  most 
lawful  enjoyments,  that  they  may  never  become  a  snare  to  us;  make  us  also, 
O  Lord,  to  be  so  affected  toward  our  neighbors  that  we  never  transgress 
that  royal  law  of  thine  of  loving  him  as  ourselves;  grant  us  exactly  to  per¬ 
form  all  parts  of  justice,  yielding  to  all  whatsoever  by  any  kind  of  right 
becomes  their  due,  and  give  us  such  mercy  and  compassion,  that  we  may 
never  fail  to  do  all  acts  of  charity  to  all  men,  whether  friends  or  enemies, 
according  to  thy  command  and  example.”  Amen. — Thomas  a  Kempis 

(1379-1471)- 


7 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  8 

^attaining  tge  JftiU  statute  of  S^anljooti 

fot  tf)t  SDajty  “Be  not  children  in  mind:  yet  in  malice  be  ye 
babes,  but  in  mind  be  men.” — I  Corinthians  14.  20. 

SC«2»!^OnfOtt6eSDa^:  Ephesians  4.  11-16. 

ir 

ii  And  he  gave  some  to  be  apostles;  and  some,  prophets;  and 
some,  evangelists;  and  some,  pastors  and  teachers;  12  for  the  per¬ 
fecting  of  the  saints,  unto  the  work  of  ministering,  unto  the 
building  up  of  the  body  of  Christ;  13  till  we  all  attain  unto  the 
unity  of  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto 
a  full-grown  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness 
of  Christ;  14  that  we  may  be  no  longer  children,  tossed  to  and  fro 
and  carried  about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of 
men,  in  craftiness,  after  the  wiles  of  error;  15  but  speaking  truth 
in  love,  may  grow  up  in  all  things  into  him,  who  is  the  head,  even 
Christ;  16  from  whom  all  the  body  fitly  framed  and  knit  together 
through  that  which  every  joint  supplieth,  according  to  the  work¬ 
ing  in  due  measure  of  each  several  part,  maketh  the  increase  of 
the  body  unto  the  building  up  of  itself  in  love. 

“What  was  that  blessedness  of  which  it  was  said  that  ‘for  the  joy  that  was  set 
before  Him/  Christ  ‘endured  the  Cross,  despising  the  shame/  and  in  the  anticipation 
of  which  he  saw  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  was  satisfied?  What  but  this,  that  from 
his  life  and  death  was  to  go  forth  to  mankind  through  all  coming  ages  a  redeeming, 
saving  power,  never  to  be  arrested  till  the  human  race  should  grow  up  to  the  divine 
ideal  of  perfection,  to  ‘the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ’?” — John  Caird. 

“Let  this  and  every  dawn  of  morning  be  to  you  as  the  beginning  of  life,  and  let 
every  setting  sun  be  to  you  as  its  close;  let  every  one  of  these  short  lives  leave  its  sure 
record  of  some  kindly  thing  done  for  others,  some  goodly  strength  or  knowledge  gained 
for  yourselves;  so,  from  day  to  day  and  strength  to  strength,  you  shall  build  up,  by 
art,  by  thought,  and  by  just  will,  an  Ecclesia  of  which  it  shall  not  be  said,  ‘See  what 
manner  of  stones  are  here!’  but,  ‘See  what  manner  of  men!’  ” — John  Ruskin. 

Ptapet  for  tfje  2Dag  ♦  “We  confess  unto  thee,  O  God,  how  weak  we  are 
in  ourselves,  how  powerless  to  do  the  work  of  life,  how  prone  to  selfishness 
and  sin.  We  beseech  thee  to  grant  us  strength,  the  strength  of  thy  Spirit, 
the  power  of  thy  Christ,  wherein  we  can  do  all  things.  Enable  us  thus  to 
repress  every  selfish  propensity,  every  willful  purpose,  every  unkind  feeling, 
every  thought  and  word  and  deed  of  anger  and  impatience,  and  to  cherish 
perfect  love,  constant  kindness,  to  think  pure  thoughts,  to  speak  gentle 
words,  to  do  helpful  and  generous  deeds.  Raise  our  minds  to  the  contem¬ 
plation  of  thy  beloved  Son,  that,  seeing  his  divine  beauty,  we  may  be  drawn 
near  unto  him,  and  changed  into  his  image,  and  empowered  to  bring  every 
thought  into  obedience  to  Christ,  into  harmony  to  his  Spirit  and  his  immortal 
life;  for  his  sake  we  ask  it.”  Amen. — Thomas  E.  Stone  (b.  1801). 


8 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  9 

pairing  tlyz  9?mti  ot  Cfjrtet 


iPettfe  tot  fyz  2Dag:  But  if  any  man  hath  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  he 

is  none  of  his.” — Romans  8.  9. 

(ot  ti)(  iSDag;  Philippians  2.  5-1 1. 

5  Have  this  mind  in  you,  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus: 
6  who  existing  in  the  form  of  God,  counted  not  the  being  on  an 
equality  with  God  a  thing  to  be  grasped,  7  but  emptied  himself, 
taking  the  form  of  a  servant,  being  made  in  the  likeness  of  men; 
8  and  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself,  becom¬ 
ing  obedient  even  unto  death,  yea,  the  death  of  the  cross.  9  Where¬ 
fore  also  God  highly  exalted  him,  and  gave  unto  him  the  name 
which  is  above  every  name;  10  that  in  the  name  of  Jesus  every 
knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven  and  things  on  earth  and 
things  under  the  earth,  n  and  that  every  tongue  should  confess 
that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 

“In  1725  I  resolved  to  dedicate  my  life  to  God:  all  my  thoughts,  words,  and  actions 
being  thoroughly  convinced  there  was  no  medium,  but  that  every  part  ot  my  life  must 
be  either  a  sacrifice  to  God,  or  to  myself,  that  is,  in  effect,  to  the  devil.  In  1726  the 
religion  of  the  heart  appeared  to  me  in  a  stronger  light.  I  saw  that  simplicity  of  inten¬ 
tion,  purity  of  affection,  one  design  in  all  we  say  or  do,  and  one  desire,  ruling  our  tem¬ 
pers  are  the  wings  of  the  soul,  without  which  we  can  never  ascend  to  the  mount  of 
God.  In  1729  I  saw  in  a  clearer  light  the  necessity  of  having  the  mind  which  was  in 
Christ,  and  of  walking  as  he  walked,  not  only  in  most  respects,  but  in  all  things.” — • 
John  Wesley  (died  March  2,  1781). 

“Christianity  is  not  a  religion  of  rules.  It  is  the  religion  of  the  divine  example. 
Try  to  follow  the  blessed  steps  of  the  most  holy  life.  Take  his  advice.  Ask  yourself, 
in  the  moment  of  perplexity  or  temptation,  what  would  he  do  it  he  were  here?  Nothing 
else  will  so  surely  lead  11s  into  the  way  of  holy  living.” — George  Hodges. 


Ptapet  (or  tlje  SDap:  Thou,  O  Jesus,  didst  forsake  thine  heavenly  com¬ 
pany  and  of  thy  great  love  didst  come  into  the  world,  and  take  the  form 
of  man,  and  bear  all  his  sorrows  and  troubles  and  sins.  Thou  didst  bear 
the  weary  lot  of  life;  thou  didst  bear  the  pangs  of  Gethsemane  and  the 
anguish  of  the  cross.  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  that  he  lay  down  his 
life  for  his  friends ;  but  thou  didst  lay  thine  down  for  thine  enemies.  All 
the  power  of  thy  nature  went  forth  for  others.  And  now  thou  hast  left  thy 
commandment  that  we  are  to  walk  in  thy  steps.  We  are  to  live,  not  unto 
ourselves,  but  unto  thee,  and  for  the  sake  of  those  whom  we  love  and  for 
the  sake  of  those  who  count  themselves  our  enemies.  Behold,  O  Christ,  how 
far  we  come  from  this  our  high  calling.  Behold  how  we  strive,  each  for 
his  own  good,  and  each  to  advance  himself  or  to  build  his  own.  See  how 
little  we  have  of  disinterestedness,  of  love  for  others,  of  the  spirit  of  sacrifice 
for  others’  good.  O  blessed  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us.  As  thou  dost  love 
us,  inspire  us  by  thine  own  Spirit.  O  may  we  yet  come  to  have  this  mind 
in  us  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.  Help  us  that  at  last  we  may  have 
the  witness  of  our  consciences  that  by  the  grace  of  God  we  have  been  enabled 
to  live  nearer,  both  to  the  spirit  and  the  example  of  our  Master.  In  thy 
name,  O  Christ.  Amen. 


9 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  io 

Hobt  to  C(jn0t 

Pet#*  (or  t!)e  £Da#:  “  Simon,  son  of  John,  lovest  thou  me?  He  saith 

unto  him,  Yea,  Lord;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee,” — John  21.  16. 

Heston  fottljeiaDap:  John  14.  21-24. 

21  He  that  hath  my  commandments,  and  keepeth  them,  he  it  is 
that  loveth  me:  and  he  that  loveth  me  shall  be  loved  of  my  Father, 
and  I  will  love  him,  and  will  manifest  myself  unto  him.  22  Judas 
(not  Iscariot)  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  what  is  come  to  pass  that  thou 
wilt  manifest  thyself  unto  us,  and  not  unto  the  world?  23  Jesus 
answered  and  said  unto  him,  If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep 
my  word:  and  my  Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto 
him,  and  make  our  abode  with  him.  24  He  that  loveth  me  not 
keepeth  not  my  words:  and  the  word  which  ye  hear  is  not  mine, 
but  the  Father’s  who  sent  me. 


“Once  earthly  joy  I  craved, 

Sought  peace  and  rest; 

Now  thee  alone  I  seek, 

Give  what  is  best: 

This  all  my  prayer  shall  be, 

More  love,  O  Christ,  to  thee, 

More  love  to  thee.” 

— Elizabeth  P.  Prentiss. 


“To  me  Jesus  is  the  Wonderful,  the  Counselor,  the  Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince 
of  Peace.  Before  him  I  bow,  crying  out  as  I  look  up  to  his  wounded  side,  ‘My  Lord 
and  my  God!’  There  is  no  reverence  that  I  have  that  goes  beyond  the  reverence  I 
give  to  him;  there  is  no  reverence  I  ever  knew  that  goes  beyond  the  love  I  want  to 
offer  him;  there  is  no  loyalty  I  have  to  any  being,  seen  or  unseen,  known  or  imagined, 
that  transcends  the  reverence  and  the  loyalty  I  wish  to  pay  to  him.  He  is  my  Lord. 
He  is  my  Master.  I  am  sorry  I  do  not  understand  him  better;  I  am  sorry  I  do  not 
love  him  more;  I  am  sorry  my  capacity  for  reverence  is  so  slight;  I  am  sorry  I  follow 
him  so  far  off;  but  he  is  my  all  and  in  all;  I  have  no  thought  of  God  that  runs  beyond 
him;  I  have  no  reverence  or  affection  that  ever  transcends  or  can  transcend  what  I 
want  to  lay  at  his  feet.” — Lyman  Abbott. 

(Ot  tj)*  O  most  gracious  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  pour  into  our 

souls  the  most  precious  gift  of  thy  love,  that  our  hearts  may  ever  long  for 
thee,  and  desire  to  be  in  thy  courts  and  to  live  with  thee.  Grant  that  our 
souls  may  hunger  after  thee,  who  art  full  of  all  pleasure  and  delight.  May 
we  ever  thirst  for  thee,  the  fountain  of  life  and  light.  Let  us  seek  thee 
and  find  thee,  think  of  thee  and  speak  of  thee,  and  do  all  things  to  the 
praise  and  glory  of  thy  holy  name.  Be  thou  our  hope  and  joy,  our  rest  and 
peace,  our  refuge  and  help,  our  wisdom  and  treasure,  both  now  and  ever¬ 
more.  Amen. 


IO 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  ii 

Conqueroi#  Cfjrtet 


(0t  tf)£  £DilJU  “Thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.” — i  Corinthians  15.  57. 

%Z$£ ion  lot  tl )Z  2Dag;  Romans  8.  31-35,  37~39- 

31  What  then  shall  we  say  to  these  things?  If  God  is  for  us, 
who  is  against  us?  32  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered 
him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  also  with  him  freely  give  us 
all  things?  33  Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God’s 
elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth;  34  who  is  he  that  condemneth?  It 
is  Christ  Jesus  that  died,  yea  rather,  that  was  raised  from  the 
dead,  who  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  intercession 
for  us.  35  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  shall 
tribulation,  or  anguish,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or 
peril,  or  sword?  .  .  . 

37  Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through 
him  that  loved  us.  38  For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor 
life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  things  present,  nor  things 
to  come,  nor  powers,  39  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which 
is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 

‘Fight  the  good  fight  with  all  thy  might, 

Christ  is  thy  strength,  and  Christ  thy  right; 

Lay  hold  on  life,  and  it  shall  be 
Thy  joy  and  crown  eternally. 

“Faint  not,  fear  not,  his  arms  are  near, 

He  changeth  not  and  thou  art  dear; 

Only  believe,  and  thou  shalt  see 
That  Christ  is  all  in  all  to  thee. 

“Run  the  straight  race  through  God’s  good  grace, 

Lift  up  thine  eyes  and  seek  his  face; 

Life  with  its  way  before  thee  lies, 

Christ  is  the  path  and  Christ  the  prize.” 

• — John  S.  B.  Monsell. 

f0t  ff)Z  “Blessed  Lord,  who  art  of  power  to  establish  us 

according  to  thy  gospel,  strengthen  our  hearts  that  we  fall  not  from  our 
steadfastness.  Hold  thou  us  up,  and  so  we  shall  be  safe.  .  .  .  What¬ 

ever  of  sin  or  of  infirmity  thou  seest  in  us,  O  Lord,  forgive  it,  and  help  us 
to  overcome  it.  Whatever  of  good  thy  grace  may  have  wrought  in  us,  be 
pleased  to  confirm  and  complete  it  unto  the  day  of  Christ.  .  .  .  O  thou 
,  that  savest  by  thy  right  hand  them  that  put  their  trust  in  thee  from  those 
that  rise  up  against  them,  grant  us  defense  and  deliverance,  .  .  .  that  we 
may  in  all  things  be  more  thaji  conquerors  through  him  that  loved  us.  Keep 
us  steadfast  and  immovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord ;  and 
enable  us  to  be  faithful  unto  death,  that  we  may  receive  the  crown  of  life. 
In  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. — Family 
Prayers ,  Church  of  Scotland  (1870). 


II 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  12 

attempting  (feat  ^fung#  foe  (Bob 

Peegit  foe  tije  SDa^l  “And  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying,  Whom 
shall  I  send,  and  who  will  go  for  us?  Then  I  said,  Here  am  I;  send 
me.” — Isaiah  6.  8. 

Heston  foe  ttje  SDag:  Joshua  1.  1,  2,  5,  6,  9. 

1  Now  it  came  to  pass  after  the  death  of  Moses  the  servant  of 
Jehovah,  that  Jehovah  spake  unto  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  Moses’ 
minister,  saying,  2  Moses  my  servant  is  dead;  now  therefore  arise, 
go  over  this  Jordan,  thou,  and  all  this  people,  unto  the  land  which 
I  do  give  to  them,  even  to  the  children  of  Israel.  ...  5  There  shall 
not  any  man  be  able  to  stand  before  thee  all  the  days  of  thy  life:  as  I 
was  with  Moses,  so  I  will  be  with  thee;  I  will  not  fail  thee,  nor 
forsake  thee.  6  Be  strong  and  of  good  courage;  for  thou  shalt 
cause  this  people  to  inherit  the  land  which  I  sware  unto  their 
fathers  to  give  them.  ...  9  Have  not  I  commanded  thee?  Be  strong 
and  of  good  courage;  be  not  affrighted,  neither  be  thou  dismayed: 
for  Jehovah  thy  God  is  with  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest. 


“In  life’s  small  things  be  resolute  and  great 
To  keep  thy  muscle  trained;  knowest  thou  when  Fate 
Thy  measure  takes,  or  when  she’ll  say  to  thee, 

‘I  find  thee  worthy;  do  this  deed  for  me?’  ” 

— Jaynes  Russell  Lowell. 

“Knock  impossibilities  on  the  head.  Do  it  now.  God  with  you.  You’ll  get 
through.” — Sir  Douglas  Haig. 

“Who  would  sit  down  and  whine  for  a  lost  Age  of  Gold 
While  the  Lord  of  all  ages  is  here? 

True  hearts  will  leap  up  at  the  trumpet  of  God, 

And  those  who  can  suffer  can  dare.” 

— Charles  Kingsley. 


fOt  tf)t  SD&JH  O  Lord,  our  God,  dost  not  thy  voice  still  speak, 
saying,  “Whom  shall  I  send,  and  who  will  go  for  us?”  May  it  not  be  that 
thou  art  even  now  calling  us  to  undertake  some  great  task  for  thee?  O 
Lord  we  pray  that  our  ears  may  be  open  to  hear  thy  call;  that  our  hearts 
may  be  eager  and  ready  to  respond  to  thee.  May  we  not  wait  for  some 
great  opportunity  to  offer;  make  us  as  diligent  to  perform  whatsoever  our 
hands  find  to  do.  Aid  us  by  thy  grace,  that  all  our  work  may  be  begun, 
continued,  and  ended  in  thee.  Preserve  us  from  covetousness  and  from 
jealousy.  Keep  us  true  and  honest,  gentle  and  loving  in  all  the  relation¬ 
ships  of  life.  Give  us  the  spirit  of  sympathy  toward  all  those  who  toil 
with  us  or  for  us.  Help  us  to  bear  one  another’s  burdens.  May  all  with 
whom  we  come  into  contact  find  encouragement  and  inspiration  in  our  ex¬ 
ample  and  fellowship.  If  losses  and  disappointments  come  to  us,  may  we 
neither  be  embittered  nor  caused  to  lose  faith  in  thee.  Thus  whatever  our 
lot  in  life  may  we  glorify  thee  in  what  we  do  and  what  we  are.  In  the  name 
of  our  Master.  Amen. 


12 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  13 

hefting  flftltsrtiom 

Per &t  tor  tjje  SDap:  “I  am  understanding.  .  .  . 

And  those  that  seek  me  diligently  shall  find  me.” 

— Proverbs  8.  14b,  17b. 

for  tfjeSDap:  Proverbs  2.  I— 9. 

1  My  son,  if  thou  wilt  receive  my  words, 

And  lay  up  my  commandments  with  thee; 

2  So  as  to  incline  thine  ear  unto  wisdom, 

And  apply  thy  heart  to  understanding; 

3  Yea,  if  thou  cry  after  discernment, 

And  lift  up  thy  voice  for  understanding; 

4  If  thou  seek  her  as  silver, 

And  search  for  her  as  for  hid  treasures: 

5  Then  shalt  thou  understand  the  fear  of  Jehovah, 

And  find  the  knowledge  of  God. 

6  For  Jehovah  giveth  wisdom; 

Out  of  his  mouth  cometh  knowledge  and  understanding: 

7  He  layeth  up  sound  wisdom  for  the  upright; 

He  is  a  shield  to  them  that  walk  in  integrity; 

8  That  he  may  guard  the  paths  of  justice, 

And  preserve  the  way  of  his  saints.  * 

9  Then  shalt  thou  understand  righteousness  and  justice, 

And  equity,  yea,  every  good  path. 


“Mighty  One,  before  whose  face 
Wisdom  had  her  glorious  seat, 

When  the  orbs  that  people  space 
Sprang  to  birth  beneath  thy  feet! 

“Source  of  truth,  whose  rays  alone 
Light  the  mighty  world  of  mind! 

God  of  love,  who  from  thy  throne 
Kindly  watchest  all  mankind! 

“Shed  on  those  who  in  thy  name 
Teach  the  way  of  truth  and  right, 

Shed  that  love’s  undying  flame, 

Shed  that  wisdom’s  guiding  light.” 

— William  Cullen  Bryant. 


y&l&ytZ  fOt  tf)Z  SDttgi  “Almighty,  everlasting  God,  source  of  all  light  and 
life,  hear  our  prayers.  With  all  our  hearts  we  would  seek  after  wisdom . 
Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  to  enlighten  our  understanding  with  true  wisdom, 
that  knowledge  which  cometh  from  thee,  that  we  may  know  thee,  the  only 
true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent.  May  we  love  thee  with 
unfeigned  sincerity  and  obey  thee  with  a  willing  mind.  Free  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  from  all  servile  fear,  that  we  may  find  our  happiness  in  doing  our  duty, 
and  from  overconfidence  in  self  that  we  may  constantly  recognize  our  depend¬ 
ence  upon  thee.  Guide  us,  we  pray  thee,  in  the  paths  of  justice  and  righteous¬ 
ness,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.”  Amen. 

13 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  14 

Perfecting  flDu t  JFattS 


$eC£»e  fflt  tf)Z  “Looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  perfecter  of 

our  faith.” — Hebrews  12.  2. 

Ee££on  toz  tljeSDap:  1  Peter  I.  3—9. 

3  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  according  to  his  great  mercy  begat  us  again  unto  a  living 
hope  by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead,  4  unto  an 
inheritance  incorruptible,  and  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away, 
reserved  in  heaven  for  you,  5  who  by  the  power  of  God  are  guarded 
through  faith  unto  a  salvation  ready  to  be  revealed  in  the  last 
time.  6  Wherein  ye  greatly  rejoice,  though  now  for  a  little  while, 
if  need  be,  ye  have  been  put  to  grief  in  manifold  trials,  7  that  the 
proof  of  your  faith,  being  more  precious  than  gold  that  perisheth 
though  it  is  proved  by  fire,  may  be  found  unto  praise  and  glory 
and  honor  at  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ:  8  whom  not  having 
seen  ye  love ;  on  whom,  though  now  ye  see  him  not.,  yet  believing, 
ye  rejoice  greatly  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory:  9  receiv¬ 
ing  the  end  of  your  faith,  even  the  salvation  of  your  souls. 


“Strong  Son  of  God,  immortal  Love, 

Whom  we,  that  have  not  seen  thy  face. 

By  faith,  and  faith  alone,  embrace, 

Believing  where  we  cannot  prove; 

“Thou  seemest  human  and  divine, 

The  highest,  holiest  manhood,  thou; 

Our  wills  are  ours,  we  know  not  how; 

Our  wills  are  ours,  to  make  them  thine. 

“Our  little  systems  have  their  day; 

They  have  their  day  and  cease  to  be. 

They  are  but  broken  lights  of  thee, 

And  thou,  0  Lord,  art  more  than  they. 

“We  have  but  faith:  we  cannot  know, 

For  knowledge  is  of  things  we  see; 

And  yet  we  trust  it  comes  from  thee, 

A  beam  in  darkness;  let  it  grow.” 

— Alfred  Tennyson _ 


Pta^et  f0t  tf)C  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  author  and  perfecter  of  our 

faith,  perfect ,  we  beseech  thee ,  the  faith  of  us  who  believe ,  and  sow  the 
good  seed  of  faith  in  their  hearts  who  as  yet  lack  it ;  that  we  all  may  look 
steadfastly  unto  thee,  and  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us. 
Give  us  grace  to  show  our  faith  by  our  works;  be  faith  to  us,  evidence  of 
things  unseen ;  teach  us  to  walk  by  faith,  having  respect  unto  the  promises ; 
which  of  thy  mercy  make  good  to  us  in  thine  own  good  time,  O  our  most 
gracious  Lord  God  and  Saviour.”  Amen. — Christina  G.  Rossetti  (1830- 
1894). 


14 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  15 

SDdibetance  Jftom  Sill  Ctul 


for,t§e  SDap;  ‘  ‘And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  whosoever  shall 
call  on  the  name  of  Jehovah  shall  be  delivered.” — Joel  2.  32. 

^e^onfoctljeSDap:  Psalm  3 4.  15-22. 

15  The  eyes  of  Jehovah  are  toward  the  righteous, 

And  his  ears  are  open  unto  their  cry. 

16  The  face  of  Jehovah  is  against  them  that  do  evil, 

To  cut  off  the  remembrance  of  them  from  the  earth. 

17  The  righteous  cried,  and  Jehovah  heard, 

And  delivered  them  out  of  all  their  troubles. 

18  Jehovah  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of  a  broken  heart, 

And  saveth  such  as  are  of  a  contrite  spirit. 

19  Many  are  the  afflictions  of  the  righteous; 

But  Jehovah  delivereth  him  out  of  them  all. 

20  He  keepeth  all  his  bones: 

Not  one  of  them  is  broken. 

21  Evil  shall  slay  the  wicked; 

And  they  that  hate  the  righteous  shall  be  condemned. 

22  Jehovah  redeemeth  the  soul  of  his  servants; 

And  none  of  them  that  take  refuge  in  him  shall  be  con¬ 
demned. 


“Between  us  and  thyself  remove 
Whatever  hindrances  may  be, 

That  so  our  inmost  heart  may  prove 
A  holy  temple,  meet  for  thee.” 

— Latin  Manuscripts  of  Fifteenth  Century. 

“Make  sure  that  however  good  you  may  be  you  have  faults,  that  however  dull 
you  may  be  you  can  find  out  what  they  are,  and  that  however  slight  they  may  be  you 
would  better  make  some  patient  effort  to  get  quit  of  them.” — John  Ruskin. 

“Holy  living  is  transcendently  dearer  to  God,  and  more  necessary  for  man,  than 
theoretic  orthodoxy  and  outward  conformities.” — Frederick  W.  Farrar. 


Pta^tt  (DC  tI)C  £Da£H  “O  God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  whose  name  is  great,  whose  nature  is  blissful,  whose  goodness 
is  inexhaustible,  thou  God  and  Master  of  all  things,  who  art  blessed  forever: 

.  sanctify,  O  Lord,  our  souls  and  bodies  and  spirits,  and  touch  our 
apprehensions  and  search  out  our  consciences,  and  cast  out  of  us  every  evil 
thought,  every  base  desire,  all  envy,  and  pride,  and  hypocrisy,  all  falsehood, 
all  deceit,  all  worldly  anxiety,  all  covetousness,  vainglory,  and  sloth,  all 
malice,  all  wrath,  all  anger,  all  remembrance  of  injuries,  all  blasphemy,  and 
every  motion  of  the  flesh  and  spirit  that  is  contrary  to  thy  holy  will.  And 
grant  us,  O  Lord,  the  Lover  of  man,  with  freedom,  without  condemnation, 
with  a  pure  heart  and  contrite  soul,  without  confusion  of  face  and  with 
sanctified  lips,  boldly  to  call  upon  thee,  our  holy  God  and  Father  who  art 
in  heaven.”  Amen. — Liturgy  of  Saint  James. 


15 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  16 

JUbrng  tn  Constant  JfdIoto0J)tp  CLdlttg  (Bob 


tot  tl)£  “Our  fellowship  is  with  the  Father,  and  with  his 

Son  Jesus  Christ.” — I  John  i.  3. 

E*££0nf0ttbe2Dap:  John  17.  1-3,  20-23. 

i  These  things  spake  Jesus;  and  lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven, 
he  said,  Father,  the  hour  is  come;  glorify  thy  Son,  that  the  Son 
may  glorify  thee:  2  even  as  thou  gavest  him  authority  over  all 
flesh,  that  to  all  whom  thou  hast  given  him,  he  should  give  eternal 
life.  3  And  this  is  life  eternal,  that  they  should  know  thee  the 
only  true  God,  and  him  whom  thou  didst  send,  even  Jesus  Christ. 
.  .  .  20  Neither  for  these  only  do  I  pray,  but  for  them  also 

that  believe  on  me  through  their  word;  21  that  they  may  all  be 
one;  even  as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also 
may  be  in  us:  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  didst  send  me. 
22  And  the  glory  which  thou  hast  given  me  I  have  given  unto 
them;  that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one;  23  I  in  them,  and 
thou  in  me,  that  they  may  be  perfected  into  one;  that  the  world 
may  know  that  thou  didst  send  me,  and  lovedst  them,  even  as 
thou  lovedst  me. 


“Strive  to  see  God  in  all  things  without  exception,  and  acquiesce  in  his  will  with 
absolute  submission.  Do  everything  for  God,  uniting  yourself  to  him  by  a  mere  up¬ 
ward  glance,  or  by  the  overflowing  of  your  heart  toward  him.  Never  be  in  a  hurry; 
do  everything  quietly  and  in  a  calm  spirit.  Do  not  lose  your  inward  peace  for  any¬ 
thing  whatsoever,  even  if  your  whole  world  seems  upset.  Commend  all  to  God,  and 
then  lie  still  and  be  at  rest  in  his  bosom.  Whatever  happens,  abide  steadfast  in  a 
determination  to  cling  simply  to  God,  trusting  in  his  eternal  love  for  you;  and  if  you 
find  that  you  have  wandered  forth  from  his  shelter,  recall  your  heart  quietly  and  simply. 
Maintain  a  holy  simplicity  of  mind,  and  do  not  smother  yourself  with  a  host  of  cares, 
wishes,  or  longings,  under  any  pretext.” — Saint  Francis  de  Sales. 


“All  men  are  not  spiritual  men;  but  all  have  spiritual  sensibilities  which  might 
awake.  All  that  is  wanted  is  to  become  conscious  of  the  nearness  of  God.  .  .  .  Our 
souls  float  in  the  immeasurable  ocean  of  spirit.  God  lies  around  us:  at  any  moment 
we  might  be  conscious  of  the  contact.” — F.  IV.  Robertson. 

ytt  C0E  t SDftgt  Teach  us,  O  Father,  how  to  ask  thee  each  moment, 
silently,  for  thy  help.  Wherein  we  fail  teach  us  how  to  come  to  thee  for 
forgiveness.  When  we  are  troubled  and  anxious  enable  us,  by  thy  grace, 
quietly  to  turn  to  thee.  May  nothing  this  day  come  between  our  hearts 
and  thee.  May  we  will,  and  do,  and  say  just  what  thou,  our  loving  and 
tender  Father,  wiliest  us  to  will  and  do  and  say.  Work  thy  holy  will  in  us 
and  through  us  this  day,  guiding  us,  inspiring  us,  strengthening  us,  that  we 
may  be  enabled  to  do  thy  service — something  that  shall  please  thee  and  bless 
our  fellow  men.  Lead  us,  O  Lord,  in  a  straight  way.  Grant  that  every 
day  may  find  us  nearer  thee,  more  fully  conscious  of  thy  presence,  more 
completely  at  one  with  thee,  until  at  last  we  shall  go  to  be  with  thee  for¬ 
ever.  Amen. 


16 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  17 

Hf) z  jRee&  (ot  IReltgtousi  jttiboz 


$EE£t  (0E  tt)Z  “In  diligence  not  slothful;  fervent  in  spirit,  serv¬ 

ing  the  Lord.” — Rojnans  12.  11. 

JLZ&&0ZI  (Ot  tf)E  Revelation  3.  15-19. 

15  I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  art  neither  cold  nor  hot:  I 
would  thou  wert  cold  or  hot.  16  So  because  thou  art  lukewarm, 
and  neither  hot  nor  cold,  I  will  spew  thee  out  of  my  mouth.  17  Be¬ 
cause  thou  sayest,  I  am  rich,  and  have  gotten  riches,  and  have 
need  of  nothing;  and  knowest  not  that  thou  art  the  wretched 
one  and  miserable  and  poor  and  blind  and  naked:  18  I  counsel  thee 
to  buy  of  me  gold  refined  by  fire,  that  thou  mayest  become  rich; 
and  white  garments,  that  thou  mayest  clothe  thyself,  and  that 
the  shame  of  thy  nakedness  be  not  made  manifest;  and  eyesalve 
to  anoint  thine  eyes,  that  thou  mayest  see.  19  As  many  as  I  love, 
I  reprove  and  chasten:  be  zealous  therefore,  and  repent. 


“Nothing  great  was  ever  achieved  without  enthusiasm.” — Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 


“Will  petitions  that  do  not  move  the  heart  of  the  suppliant,  move  the  heart  of 
Omnipotence  ?” —  Thompson. 


“There  are  martyrs  of  the  devil  who  put  to  shame  the  saints  of  God,  and  running 
as  they  do  with  more  alacrity  to  death  than  these  to  life,  may  be  proposed  to  them 
for  imitation.  The  children  of  light  are  rebuked  that  they  give  not  half  the  pains  to 
win  heaven  which  men  of  this  world  do  to  win  earth;  that  the  world  is  better  served 
by  its  servants  than  God  is  by  his.” — Richard  Chenevix  Trench . 


PEftgEE  f0E  tf)E  “Teach  us,  O  Lord,  and  enable  us  to  live  the  life 

of  saints  and  angels.  Take  us  out  of  the  languor,  the  irritability,  the  sensi¬ 
tiveness,  the  anarchy,  in  which  our  souls  lie,  and  fill  them  with  thy  fullness. 
Breathe  on  us  with  thy  breath  which  infuses  energy  and  kindles  fervor.  In 
asking  for  fervor  we  ask  for  all  that  we  can  need  and  all  that  thou  canst 
give.  In  asking  for  fervor  we  are  asking  for  faith,  hope,  and  charity,  in 
their  most  heavenly  exercise;  we  are  asking  for  that  loyal  perception  of 
duty,  which  follows  on  yearning  affection;  we  are  asking  for  sanctity,  peace, 
and  joy,  all  at  once.  Nothing  would  be  a  trouble  to  us,  nothing  a  difficulty, 
had  we  but  fervor  of  soul.  Lord,  in  asking  for  fervor  we  are  asking  for 
thyself,  for  nothing  short  of  thee,  O  God.  Enter  our  hearts,  and  fill  them 
with  fervor  by  filling  them  with  thee.”  Amen. — John  Henry  Newman 
(1801-1890). 


17 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  18 

CTOon#  Socbotrb  to  dSob  an&  lift#  &tEbic£ 


$EE0E  (0E  tf)E  SDa^t  “And  in  every  work  that  he  began  in  the  service 
of  the  house  of  God,  and  in  the  law,  and  in  the  commandments,  to  seek 
his  God,  he  did  it  with  all  his  heart,  and  prospered.” — 2  Chronicles  31.  21. 

(oe  tfjeSDag:  Joshua  14.  7— 11. 

7  Forty  years  old  was  I  when  Moses  the  servant  of  Jehovah 
sent  me  from  Kadeshbarnea  to  spy  out  the  land;  and  I  brought 
him  word  again  as  it  was  in  my  heart.  8  Nevertheless  my  brethren 
that  went  up  with  me  made  the  heart  of  the  people  melt;  but  I 
wholly  followed  Jehovah  my  God.  9  And  Moses  sware  on  that 
day,  saying,  Surely  the  land  whereon  thy  foot  hath  trodden  shall 
be  an  inheritance  to  thee  and  to  thy  children  for  ever,  because 
thou  hast  wholly  followed  Jehovah  my  God.  10  And  now,  behold, 
Jehovah  hath  kept  me  alive,  as  he  spake,  these  forty  and  five  years, 
from  the  time  that  Jehovah  spake  this  word  unto  Moses,  while 
Israel  walked  in  the  wilderness:  and  now,  lo,  I  am  this  day  four¬ 
score  and  five  years  old.  n  As  yet  I  am  as  strong  this  day  as  I 
was  in  the  day  that  Moses  sent  me :  as  my  strength  was  then,  even 
so  is  my  strength  now,  for  war,  and  to  go  out  and  to  come  in. 

“Is  it  thy  meat  and  drink  ‘to  do  the  will  of  thy  Father  which  is  in  heaven’?  Is 
thine  eye  single  in  all  things?  Always  fixed  on  him?  Always  looking  unto  Jesus? 
Dost  thou  point  at  him  in  whatsoever  thou  doest?  In  all  thy  labor,  thy  business,  thy 
conversation?  Aiming  only  at  the  glory  of  God  in  all — ‘whatsoever  thou  doest,  either 
in  word  or  deed,  doing  it  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus;  giving  thanks  unto  God, 
even  the  Father,  through  him?’  ” — John  Wesley . 


“Are  we  willing  to  give  ourselves  entirely  to  God,  to  let  him  do  with  us  whatever 
he  pleases,  to  follow  anywhere  at  his  bidding,  to  renounce  anything  at  his  call,  ask¬ 
ing  only,  in  return,  that  he  will  give  us  himself,  with  all  his  infinite  love,  to  be  ours 
from  this  time  forever?  If  we  are  thus  willing,  let  11s  kneel  down  this  moment  and 
tell  him  so.  Alone  with  God,  let  us  give  him  ourselves,  all  we  have  and  are  and  shall 
be,  to  be  unreservedly  his.” — William  R.  Huntington. 

PEA ytt  (OE  tf)E  “O  Lord,  our  God,  we  pray  that  we  may  be  aided 

by  thy  grace  in  being  faithful  to  thee  and  to  thy  service.  Our  desire  and 
purpose  is  to  devote  all  our  days  and  every  talent  we  possess  to  the  service 
of  him  who  died  that  we  might  live.  We  are  not  our  own;  thine  we  are 
and  thee  would  we  serve.  Defend  us,  great  Captain  of  our  salvation,  against 
the  errors  which  mislead  us,  the  snares  which  beset  us,  and  the  foes  that  lay 
in  wait  for  us.  Give  us  a  clear  eye  to  see  the  path  of  duty  and  confidence 
to  know  that  it  will  prove  the  path  of  safety.  May  self-interest  never 
tempt  us  from  what  integrity  requires,  nor  the  dread  of  consequences  make 
our  hand  falter  in  doing  what  is  right.  Grant  us  a  brave,  patient,  and 
hopeful  temper ;  that  whatever  trouble  may  befall,  we  may  seek  before 
everything  else  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness.  Hear  us,  O  Lord, 
and  answer  us  in  this  our  prayer,  for  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. 


18 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  19 

jfinbmg  Out  iictft  m  C3o& 


fot  tf )t  SDtl^  ♦  “Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  hath  given  rest  unto 
his  people.’’ — 1  Chronicles  23.  25. 

3Lt$$on  foe  tfjtDap:  Psalm  31.  1—5. 

1  In  thee,  O  Jehovah,  do  I  take  refuge; 

Let  me  never  be  put  to  shame: 

Deliver  me  in  thy  righteousness. 

2  Bow  down  thine  ear  unto  me;  deliver  me  speedily: 

Be  thou  to  me  a  strong  rock, 

A  house  of  defense  to  save  me. 

3  For  thou  art  my  rock  and  my  fortress; 

Therefore  for  thy  name’s  sake  lead  me  and  guide  me. 

4  Pluck  me  out  of  the  net  that  they  have  laid  privily  for  me; 
For  thou  art  my  stronghold. 

5  Into  thy  hand  I  commend  my  spirit: 

Thou  hast  redeemed  me,  O  Jehovah,  thou  God  of  truth. 

“Yea!  In  thy  life  our  little  lives  are  ended, 

Into  thy  depths  our  trembling  spirits  fall; 

In  thee  enfolded,  gathered,  comprehended, 

As  holds  the  sea  her  waves — thou  hold’st  us  all.” 

— E.  Scudder. 


“Lord,  what  art  thou?  pure  life,  power,  beauty,  bliss: 

Where  dwellest  thou?  up  above  in  perfect  light: 

What  is  thy  time?  eternity  it  is: 

What  state?  attendance  of  each  glorious  spirit: 

Thyself,  thy  place,  thy  days,  thy  state 
Pass  all  the  thoughts  of  powers  create. 

“How  shall  I  reach  the  Lord?  Oh,  soar  above, 

Ambitious  soul!  But  which  way  should  I  fly? 

Thou,  Lord,  art  way  and  end.  What  wings  have  I? 

Aspiring  thoughts  of  faith,  of  hope,  of  love, 

Oh  let  these  wings  that  way  alone 
Present  me  to  thy  blissful  throne.” 

tot  ti jt  Dap:  “  Grant  us,  O  most  loving  Lord,  to  rest  in  thee 
above  all  creatures,  above  all  health  and  beauty,  above  all  glory  and  honor, 
above  all  power  and  dignity,  above  all  knowledge  and  subtility,  above  all 
riches  and  above  all  fame  and  praise,  above  all  sweetness  and  comfort, 
above  all  hope  and  promise,  above  all  gifts  and  favors  that  thou  canst  give, 
and  impart  to  us,  above  all  justice  that  the  mind  of  man  can  receive  and 
feel ;  and  finally,  above  angels  and  archangels,  and  above  all  the  heavenly 
host,  above  all  things  visible  and  invisible,  and  above  all  that  thou  art  not, 
O  our  God.  It  is  too  small  and  unsatisfying  whatsoever  thou  bestowest  on 
us  apart  from  thee,  or  revealest  to  us,  or  promisest,  whilst  thou  art  not  seen, 
and  not  fully  obtained.  For  surely  our  hearts  cannot  truly  rest,  nor  be 
entirely  contented,  unless  they  rest  in  thee.”  Amen. — Thomas  a  Kempis 
(1379-1471). 


19 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  20 

j00lnlit£  of  Spirit 


(0t  tf)t  j&DftJU  “Bear  ye  one  another’s  burdens,  and  so  fulfill  the 
law  of  Christ.” — Galatians  6.  2. 

JLt$&on  tot  tljeSDap:  Romans  12.  I — 3 ;  14.  13. 

1  I  beseech  you  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God, 
to  present  your  bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God, 
which  is  your  spiritual  service.  2  And  be  not  fashioned  accord¬ 
ing  to  this  world:  but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of 
your  mind,  that  ye  may  prove  what  is  the  good  and  acceptable 
and  perfect  will  of  God. 

3  For  I  say,  through  the  grace  that  was  given  me,  to  every  man 
that  is  among  you,  not  to  think  of  himself  more  highly  than  he 
ought  to  think;  but  so  to  think  as  to  think  soberly,  according  as 
God  hath  dealt  to  each  man  a  measure  of  faith. 

13  Let  us  not  therefore  judge  one  another  any  more:  but 
judge  ye  this  rather,  that  no  man  put  a  stumbling-block  in  his 
brother’s  way,  or  an  occasion  of  falling. 


“  ‘For  this  true  nobleness  Tseek  in  vain, 

In  woman  and  in  man  I  find  it  not; 

I  almost  weary  of  my  earthly  lot, 

My  life-springs  are  dried  up  with  burning  pain.’ 

Thou  find’st  it  not?  I  pray  thee  look  again, 

Look  inward,  through  the  depths  of  thine  own  soul. 

How  is  it  with  thee?  Art  thou  sound  and  whole? 

Doth  narrow  search  show  thee  no  earthly  stain? 

Be  noble!  and  the  nobleness  that  lies 
In  other  men,  sleeping,  but  never  dead, 

Will  rise  in  majesty  to  meet  thine  own; 

Then  wilt  thou  see  it  gleam  in  many  eyes, 

Then  will  pure  light  around  thy  path  be  shed, 

And  thou  wilt  never  more  be  sad  and  lone.” 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 


f0t  tf)£  “We  pray,  O  God,  that  thou  wilt  teach  us  how 

to  find  in  every  day  some  occasion  of  grace.  May  we  cease  to  look  upon 
things  under  the  ill-named  forms  of  trial,  care,  trouble  and  sorrow;  may 
we  look  upon  those  things  as  so  many  teachings  of  God  and  so  many  lessons 
to  be  learned.  May  we  be  more  brave  of  heart;  may  we  be  more  brave 
in  our  affections.  Take  away  from  us  all  effeminacy  of  taste  and  all  effem¬ 
inacy  of  love,  and  all  things  that  shall  make  us  shrink  from  the  battles  of 
life  or  from  any  of  its  experiences.  Give  us  that  robustness,  that  strength, 
that  patience,  and  that  endurance,  by  which  we  shall  be  able  to  carry  our 
daily  experience  with  great  cheerfulness  and  gladness.  May  we  know  how 
to  be  content  with  such  things  as  we  have.  .  .  .  May  we  be  perfect  as  God  is 
perfect — not  by  mere  yearnings,  not  by  mere  conceptions  of  superior  bliss  and 
holiness,  but  may  we  seek  perfection  by  the  subjection  of  our  pride  and  intem¬ 
perance,  and  by  crucifying  all  those  things  that  offend  love.  And  so  may 
we  come  into  oneness  with  thee  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
u  ' man  Abbott  (1835—1922). 


20 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  21 

<Hf>t  Utttue  ot 

(Ot  tf )t  “Thy  gentleness  hath  made  me  great.” — Psalm 

18.  35- 

%Lt&&QlX  (Ot  (Jt  SDfl#;  1  Thessalonians  2.  5-9. 

5  For  neither  at  any  time  were  we  found  using  words  of  flat¬ 
tery,  as  ye  know,  nor  a  cloak  of  covetousness,  God  is  witness; 
6  nor  seeking  glory  of  men,  neither  from  you  nor  from  others, 
when  we  might  have  claimed  authority  as  apostles  of  Christ.  7  But 
we  were  gentle  in  the  midst  of  you,  as  when  a  nurse  cherisheth 
her  own  children:  8  even  so,  being  affectionately  desirous  of 
you,  we  were  well  pleased  to  impart  unto  you,  not  the  gospel  of 
God  only,  but  also  our  own  souls,  because  ye  were  become  very 
dear  to  us.  9  For  ye  remember,  brethren,  our  labor  and  travail: 
working  night  and  day,  that  we  might  not  burden  any  of  you, 
we  preached  unto  you  the  gospel  of  God. 


“As  roses  grow  from  rose  roots  and  nettles  from  nettle  roots,  because  God,  the 
God  of  order,  works  in  the  natural  world;  so  gentleness  ot  spirit  and  speech  is  a  tree 
of  Paradise,  making  a  little  Eden  wherever  it  grows;  whilst  anger  and  hatred  ever  bring 
curses  and  unhappiness  in  their  train.” — /.  M.  Gibbon. 


“Let  this  truth  be  present  to  thee  in  the  excitement  of  anger — that  to  be  moved 
by  passion  is  not  manly,  but  that  mildness  and  gentleness,  as  they  are  more  agreeable 
to  human  nature,  so  also  are  they  more  manly.  .  .  .  For  in  the  same  degree  in  which 
a  man’s  mind  is  nearer  to  freedom  from  all  passion,  in  the  same  degree  also  is  it  nearer 
to  strength.” — Marcus  Antoninus. 


praget  toe  tlje  SDajn  “  O  Almighty  God,  give  to  thy  servants  a  meek  and 
gentle  spirit,  that  we  may  be  slow  to  anger,  and  easy  to  mercy  and  forgive¬ 
ness.  Give  us  wise  and  constant  hearts,  that  we  may  never  be  moved  to 
intemperate  anger  for  any  injury  that  is  done  or  offered.  Lord,  let  us 
ever  be  courteous,  and  easy  to  be  entreated ;  let  us  never  fall  into  a  peevish 
or  contentious  spirit,  but  follow  peace  with  all  men;  offering  forgiveness, 
inviting  them  by  courtesies,  ready  to  confess  our  own  errors,  apt  to  make 
amends,  and  desirous  to  be  reconciled.  Let  no  sickness  or  cross  accident, 
no  employment  or  weariness,  make  us  angry  or  ungentle  and  discontented, 
or  unthankful,  or  uneasy  to  them  that  minister  to  us;  but  in  all  things  make 
11s  like  unto  the  holy  Jesus.”  Amen. — Jeremy  Taylor  (1613-1667). 


21 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  22 

W&z  jBeefc  toz  Courage 


Wn&t  for  tf)e  Soap:  “  Be  strong  and  of  good  courage,  fear  not,  nor  be 
affrighted  at  them:  for  Jehovah  thy  God,  he  it  is  that  doth  go  with  thee; 
he  will  not  fail  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.” — Deuteronomy  31.  6. 

%e$$on  for  tf\e  £>ap:  Psalm  91.  1—8. 

1  Pie  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High 
Shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 

2  I  will  say  of  Jehovah,  He  is  my  refuge  and  my  fortress; 
My  God,  in  whom  I  trust. 

3  For  he  will  deliver  thee  from  the  snare  of  the  fowler, 

And  from  the  deadly  pestilence. 

4  He  will  cover  thee  with  his  pinions, 

And  under  his  wings  shalt  thou  take  refuge: 

His  truth  is  a  shield  and  a  buckler. 

5  Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  night, 

Nor  for  the  arrow  that  flieth  by  day; 

6  For  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness, 

Nor  for  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at  noonday. 

7  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side, 

And  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand; 

But  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee. 

8  Only  with  thine  eyes  shalt  thou  behold, 

And  see  the  reward  of  the  wicked. 


“It  does  not  matter  a  feather  what  a  man  has,  if  he  himself  lacks  steadfastness 
and  courage.” — Plautus. 

“Despise  nothing  in  the  world  except  falsehood  and  meanness,  and  fear  nothing 
hut  cowardice.” — Henry  van  Dyke . 


“Ye  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  take! 

The  clouds  ye  so  much  dread 
Are  big  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 
In  blessings  on  your  head.” 

—  William  Cowper. 


Pta^ft  tOZ  tf)t  2Da#*  Our  heavenly  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the 
sleep  of  the  night  and  for  refreshed  minds  and  bodies.  We  praise  thee 
for  what  thou  art  and  for  the  revelation  which  thou  hast  made  of  thyself 
to  us  in  thy  Word  and  in  the  person  of  thy  dear  Son,  our  Saviour.  Beget 
within  us,  we  pray  thee,  strong  hearts  full  of  courage  and  faith.  Then 
shall  we  be  strong  and  fear  not ;  then  shall  we  run  in  the  way  of  thy  Com¬ 
mandments  and  be  eager  to  do  thy  will.  Use  us  each  one,  if  it  shall  please 
thee,  in  the  accomplishment  of  thy  purpose  in  the  earth.  Send  forth  every¬ 
where  thy  servants  on  errands  of  mercy  and  kindly  service  for  thee,  that 
in  our  own  land  and  in  all  the  countries  of  the  world  thy  prophetic  word 
shall  be  fulfilled,  and  gladness  and  joy  and  peace  prevail  among  all  the 
sons  of  men.  Amen. 


22 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  23 

£Ditt  jicrts  tot  ^ttengtf) 


Ut£0t  for  tf)t  *Dd#t  “Watch  ye,  stand  fast  in  the  faith,  quit  you  like 
men,  be  strong.” — 1  Corinthians  16.  13. 

Ht££0il  t0£tI)C2Da£:  2  Timothy  2.  1-5,  11-13. 

I  Thou  therefore,  my  child,  be  strengthened  in  the  grace  that 
is  in  Christ  Jesus.  2  And  the  things  which  thou  hast  heard  from 
me  among  many  witnesses,  the  same  commit  thou  to  faithful  men, 
who  shall  be  able  to  teach  others  also.  3  Suffer  hardship  with 
me,  as  a  good  soldier  of  Christ  Jesus.  4  No  soldier  on  service 
entangleth  himself  in  the  affairs  of  this  life ;  that  he  may  please 
him  who  enrolled  him  as  a  soldier.  5  And  if  also  a  man  contend 
in  the  games,  he  is  not  crowned,  except  he  have  contended  law¬ 
fully. 

II  Faithful  is  this  saying:  For  if  we  died  with  him,  we  shall 
also  live  with  him:  12  if  we  endure,  we  shall  also  reign  with 
him:  if  we  shall  deny  him,  he  also  will  deny  us:  13  if  we  are 
faithless,  he  abideth  faithful ;  for  he  cannot  deny  himself. 

“Oh,  do  not  pray  for  easy  lives.  Pray  to  be  stronger  men!  Do  not  pray  for 
tasks  equal  to  your  powers.  Pray  for  powers  equal  to  your  tasks!  Then  the  doing 
of  your  work  shall  be  no  miracle.  But  you  shall  be  a  miracle.  Every  day  you  shall 
wonder  at  yourself,  at  the  richness  of  life  which  has  come  to  you  by  the  grace  of  God.” 
— Phillips  Brooks. 

“As  the  roots  of  a  tree  are  out  of  sight,  yet  from  them  it  derives  its  firmness  and 
stability,  so  upon  the  hidden  life  of  the  Christian,  that  life  which  is  out  of  sight  of  other 
men,  his  firmness  and  stability  depend;  and  as  it  is  through  the  hidden  roots  that  the 
nourishment  is  drawn  up  to  the  stem  and  branches,  and  the  leaf  continues  green,  and 
the  tree  does  not  cease  from  bearing  fruit,  even  so  in  the  Christian’s  life,  that  life  which 
is  ‘hid  in  Christ  with  God,’  lie  the  sources  of  his  strength  and  of  his  spiritual  pros¬ 
perity.” — Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 

i 

Ptftgtt  tot  tl)C  “O  Lord  God!  strong  and  mighty,  we  would  draw 

near  to  thee,  confessing  our  weakness,  beseeching  thee  to  make  us  strong. 
We  would  be  strong  in  body,  that  we  may  do  our  work  in  life  well  and 
cheerfully;  that  we  may  help  the  weak,  and  put  a  strong  and  willing  hand 
to  the  burdens  of  others  who  have  more  than  they  can  bear.  We  would, 
O  Lord,  be  strong  in  heart,  full  of  courage,  fearless  of  danger,  holding  pain 
and  danger  cheap  when  they  lie  in  the  way  of  our  duty.  We  would  be 
strong  in  love :  make  us  warm-hearted,  true  friends,  tender  lovers,  loving 
our  neighbors  as  ourselves,  and  loving  thee  with  all  our  heart  and  soul 
and  strength.  We  would  be  strong  in  faith,  believing  thy  Word  and  thy 
promises,  ever  trusting  in  the  victory  of  good  over  evil,  ever  confident  that 
all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  thee.  We  would  be 
strong  in  hope,  undaunted  by  seeming  defeat,  ever  looking  beyond  the  mists 
and  clouds  of  time  into  the  clear  shining  of  the  eternal  life.  .  .  .  O 

Lord,  strengthen  us  daily  to  do  and  to  bear,  to  suffer  and  to  hope,  to  fight 
the  good  fight,  and  at  last  to  lay  hold  upon  the  crown  of  life  everlasting. 
Hear  our  prayer,  O  Lord,  who  art  our  strength  and  our  Redeemer,  for 
Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

23 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  24 

Ptmtp  of  £>peec!) 


t  tot  tlje  2Dap:  “  Be  not  rash  with  thy  mouth,  and  let  not  thy 
heart  be  hasty  to  utter  anything  before  God ;  for  God  is  in  heaven,  and 
thou  upon  earth:  therefore  let  thy  words  be  few.” — Ecclesiastes  5.  2. 

JWston  for  t!)e  $Dag:  Psalm  24.  1-6. 

1  The  earth  is  Jehovah’s,  and  the  fullness  thereof; 

The  world,  and  they  that  dwell  therein. 

2  For  he  hath  founded  it  upon  the  seas, 

And  established  it  upon  the  floods. 

3  Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  Jehovah? 

And  who  shall  stand  in  his  holy  place? 

4  He  that  hath  clean  hands,  and  a  pure  heart; 

Who  hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul  unto  falsehood, 

And  hath  not  sworn  deceitfully. 

5  He  shall  receive  a  blessing  from  Jehovah, 

And  righteousness  from  the  God  of  his  salvation. 

6  This  is  the  generation  of  them  that  seek  after  him, 

That  seek  thy  face,  even  Jacob. 


“For  this  is  Love’s  nobility — 

Not  to  scatter  bread  and  gold, 

Goods  and  raiment  bought  and  sold, 

But  to  bold  fast  bis  simple  sense 
And  speak  the  speech  of  innocence, 

For  be  that  feeds  men  serveth  few; 

He  serves  all  who  dares  be  true.” 

— Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 


“Let  us  all  resolve: — First,  to  attain  the  grace  of  silence;  second,  to  deem  all  fault¬ 
finding  that  does  no  good  a  sin;  third,  to  practice  the  grace  and  virtue  of  praise .” — 
Mrs.  H.  B.  Stowe. 


fOt  tf)t  “God,  our  heavenly  Father,  quicken  in  us,  we 

beseech  thee,  every  good  and  pure  thought,  and  strengthen  us  in  our  devout 
resolves  this  day.  Let  no  unhallowed  words  pollute  the  tongues  which 
thou  hast  made  to  praise  and  bless  thee;  no  evil  action  defile  the  sanctuaries 
which  thou  hast,  in  thy  wondrous  mercy,  chosen  for  thyself.  Remove 
whatever  in  us  may  be  a  hindrance  to  holy  living,  or  a  stumbling-block  in 
another’s  way.  May  our  trust  in  thee,  and  our  kindness  to  one  another, 
never  fail.  May  we  bring  to  thee,  not  only  a  humble  spirit  of  obedience, 
but  also  great  love.  O  Lord  God,  make  us  what  thou  wouldst  have  us  to 
be,  and  may  we  do  what  thou  wouldst  have  us  to  do;  only  be  thou  ever 
with  us  to  cleanse  and  renew,  to  teach,  rule,  and  sustain  us,  till  at  last  we 
come  to  thee,  to  dwell  forever  with  thee  and  thy  saints  in  light.”  Amen. — 
James  Martineau  (1805—1900). 


24 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  25 

£>ut  jReeti  ot  a  pute  I^eatt 


$£E«5rt  tOt  tt)t  SDagt  “A  new  heart  also  will  1  give  you,  and  a  new 
spirit  will  I  put  within  you.” — Ezekiel  36.  26. 

JLt&gon  tot  t!)t  2Day:  Mark  7.  14-17,  20-23. 

14  And  he  called  to  him  the  multitude  again,  and  said  unto 
them,  Hear  me  all  of  you,  and  understand:  15  there  is  nothing 
from  without  the  man,  that  going  into  him  can  defile  him:  but 
the  things  which  proceed  out  of  the  man  are  those  that  defile  the 
man.  17  And  when  he  was  entered  into  the  house  from  the  multi¬ 
tude,  his  disciples  asked  of  him  the  parable. 

20  And  he  said,  That  which  proceedeth  out  of  the  man,  that 
defileth  the  man.  21  For  from  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men, 
evil  thoughts  proceed,  fornications,  thefts,  murders,  adulteries,  22 
covetings,  wickednesses,  deceit,  lasciviousness,  an  evil  eye,  railing, 
pride,  foolishness:  23  all  these  evil  things  proceed  from  within, 
and  defile  the  man. 


“Purer  in  heart,  0  God,  help  me  to  be; 

May  I  devote  my  life  wholly  to  thee. 

Watch  thou  my  wayward  feet;  guide  me  with  counsel  sweet, 

Purer  in  heart,  help  me  to  be. 

“Purer  in  heart,  O  God,  help  me  to  be; 

That  I  thy  holy  face  one  day  may  see. 

Keep  me  from  secret  sin;  reign  thou  my  soul  within, 

Purer  in  heart,  help  me  to  be.” 

— Anna  L.  Davison. 


“A  holy  life  is  the  very  gate  of  heaven.  But  let  us  always  remember  that  holiness 
does  not  consist  in  doing  uncommon  things,  but  in  doing  everything  with  purity  of  heart. 
It  is  made  up  of  relative  duties  and  of  habitual  devotion.  Like  the  law  of  gravitation, 
which  universally  takes  effect  where  not  kept  out  by  special  counteraction,  so  it  is  with 
the  cares,  pleasures,  labors,  anxieties  of  life.  Nothing  but  fellowship  with  God  keeps 
them  in  check.” — Manning. 


prayer  (or  tl )t  &>ay:  “  O  God,  make  us  sensible  of  our  inward  wants, 
indigence,  destitution,  weakness.  Lay  open  to  us  our  corrupt  motives.  Ex¬ 
pose  to  us  our  hidden  vices  in  all  their  depravity.  Teach  us  to  look  steadily 
into  ourselves,  till  we  shall  see,  with  something  of  thine  own  abhorrence,  every 
evil  affection.  Lead  us  away  from  false  resources  to  a  sure  dependence  on 
thy  perfect  will,  and  may  this  reign  supreme  within  us.  Help  us  to  look 
through  the  disguises  of  self-love,  to  judge  ourselves  truly,  to  anticipate 
the  revelations  of  the  last  day;  and  let  not  this  knowledge  of  our  deficiencies 
and  deformities  fill  us  with  dejection,  but,  rather,  endear  us  to  thy  mercy, 
and  lead  us  to  thy  grace,  while  rousing  us  to  vigilance  and  to  firm  and 
faithful  conflict  with  every  irregular  desire.”  Amen. — William  Ellery 
Charming  (1780-1842). 


25 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  26 

SDctfire  tot  a 


(Ot  tf)C  SDa^J  “Having  therefore  these  promises,  beloved,  let  us 
cleanse  ourselves  from  all  defilement  of  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holi¬ 
ness  in  the  fear  of  God.’’ — 2  Corinthians  7.  1. 

3£e££onfottj)e&>a£:  i  Peter  i.  13-16,  22,  23. 

13  Wherefore  girding  up  the  loins  of  your  mind,  be  sober  and 
set  your  hope  perfectly  on  the  grace  that  is  to  be  brought  unto 
you  at  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ;  14  as  children  of  obedience, 
not  fashioning  yourselves  according  to  your  former  lusts  in  the 
time  of  your  ignorance;  15  but  like  as  he  who  called  you  is  holy, 
be  ye  yourselves  also  holy  in  all  manner  of  living;  16  because  it  is 
written,  Ye  shall  be  holy;  for  I  am  holy. 

22  Seeing  ye  have  purified  your  souls  in  your  obedience  to 
the  truth  unto  unfeigned  love  of  the  brethren,  love  one  another 
from  the  heart  fervently:  23  having  been  begotten  again,  not  of 
corruptible  seed,  but  of  incorruptible,  through  the  word  of  God, 
which  liveth  and  abideth. 


“Breathe  on  me,  Breath  of  God, 

Fill  me  with  thy  life  anew, 

That  I  may  love  what  thou  dost  love, 

And  do  what  thou  wouldst  do. 

“Breathe  on  me,  Breath  of  God, 

Until  my  heart  is  pure, 

Until  with  thee  I  will  one  will, 

To  do  or  to  endure. 

“Breathe  on  me,  Breath  of  God, 

Till  I  am  wholly  thine; 

Till  all  this  earthly  part  of  me 
Glows  with  thy  fire  divine. 

“Breathe  on  me,  Breath  of  God, 

So  shall  I  never  die, 

But  live  with  thee  the  perfect  life 
Of  thine  eternity.” 

— Edwin  Hatch. 

fOt  tf)C  “We  thank  thee,  O  God,  we  praise  thee,  we  adore 

thee  for  thy  great  goodness.  Glory  be  to  thee  for  all  that  thou  art  in  thy¬ 
self  and  for  all  that  thou  hast  done  for  us.  O  Lord,  we  earnestly  desire 
to  be  holy.  Help  us  to  attain  to  a  higher  state  in  the  Christian  life.  Enable 
us  to  walk  in  the  narrow  path.  Give  unto  us  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Take  away 
from  us  the  love  of  sin  and  stamp  thine  own  image  upon  our  souls.  We 
confess  that  this  present  world  has  too  strong  a  hold  upon  us.  We  are 
tied  and  bound  by  its  chains.  O  loose  us  from  them  and  set  us  free.  Let  us 
engage  in  nothing  that  is  contrary  to  thy  will.  Enable  us  to  do  some  good 
every  day.  Preserve  us  from  all  unholy  desires.  Subdue  our  unruly  wills 
and  bring  them  into  subjection  to  thy  will.  All  that  we  ask  is  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Ashton  Oxenden  (1808-1892). 

26 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  27 

Spiritual  S^mti 

Wn$t  foe  t f)t  SDajn  “  For  to  be  carnally  minded  is  death;  but  to  be  spir¬ 
itually  minded  is  life  and  peace.” — Romajis  8.  6  (King  James  version). 

JLz$&on  for  tjjeSDap:  Romans  8.  12—17. 

12  So  then,  brethren,  we  are  debtors,  not  to  the  flesh,  to  live 
after  the  flesh:  13  for  if  ye  live  after  the  flesh,  ye  must  die;  but 
if  by  the  Spirit  ye  put  to  death  the  deeds  of  the  body,  ye  shall 
live.  14  For  as  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  these  are 
sons  of  God.  15  For  ye  received  not  the  spirit  of  bondage  again 
unto  fear;  but  ye  received  the  spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we 
cry,  Abba,  Father.  16  The  Spirit  himself  beareth  witness  with 
our  spirit,  that  we  are  children  of  God:  17  and  if  children,  then 
heirs;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with  Christ;  if  so  be  that  we 
suffer  with  him,  that  we  may  be  also  glorified  with  him. 


“The  Lord  let  the  house  of  a  brute  to  the  soul  of  a  man, 

And  the  man  said,  ‘Am  I  your  debtor?’ 

And  the  Lord, — ‘Not  yet;  but  make  it  as  clean  as  you  can, 

And  then  I  will  let  you  a  better.’  ” 

— Alfred  Tennyson. 

“To  live  content  with  small  means;  to  seek  elegance  rather  than  luxury,  and  refine¬ 
ment  rather  than  fashion;  to  be  worthy,  not  respectable;  and  wealthy,  not  rich;  to 
study  hard,  think  quietly,  talk  gently,  act  frankly;  to  listen  to  stars  and  birds,  babes 
and  sages,  with  open  heart;  to  bear  all  cheerfully,  do  all  bravely,  await  occasions,  hurry 
never;  in  a  word,  to  let  the  spiritual,  unbidden  and  unconscious,  grow  up  through  the 
common — this  is  my  symphony.” — William  Ellery  Channing. 

* 

fot  SDftg;  O  God,  our  Father,  may  we  be  delivered,  we 
pray,  from  the  bondage  of  the  material.  In  the  world,  may  we  not  be  of 
the  world.  May  we  have  that  spiritual  mind  which  is  life  and  peace.  May 
we  be  able  to  make  the  material  world  the  servant  of  the  spiritual,  serving 
not  only  our  own  higher  interests  but  using  it  in  behalf  of  the  higher  inter¬ 
ests  of  all  with  whom  we  have  to  do.  We  realize  that  we  shall  be  able 
thus  to  live  only  as*  we  live  in  fellowship  with  thee.  Do  thou  therefore 
keep  us  ever  in  union  with  thyself.  In  thee  may  we  consciously  live  and 
move  and  have  our  being.  More  and  more  may  we  carry  in  our  personal 
disposition,  in  our  household,  and  through  every  part  of  our  worldly  busi¬ 
ness,  this  spirit  of  the  divine  nature.  May  we  so  live  that  men  shall  be 
curious  to  know  from  what  source  we  draw  the  inspiration  of  our  life,  and 
thus  seeing  our  good  works  be  led  to  glorify  our  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
May  we  have  more  and  more  of  the  knowledge  of  God ;  may  we  grow  in 
grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  until 
we  are  changed  from  glory  into  glory,  and  are  permitted  to  take  our  place 
by  thy  side  in  heaven,  where  we  will  praise  thee  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 


27 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  28 

$Dt$itt  fot  a  Sfitlltz  Hitt 


f0t  t!)t  j&DajU  “I  came  that  they  may  have  life,  and  may  have  it 
abundantly.” — John  10.  10b. 

tot  t&t  2>ap:  Isaiah  58.  6— 11. 

6  Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen:  to  loose  the  bonds  of 
wickedness,  to  undo  the  bands  of  the  yoke,  and  to  let  the  oppressed 
go  free,  and  that  ye  break  every  yoke?  7  Is  it  not  to  deal  thy 
bread  to  the  hungry,  and  that  thou  bring  the  poor  that  are  cast 
out  to  thy  house?  when  thou  seest  the  naked,  that  thou  cover  him; 
and  that  thou  hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own  flesh?  8  Then  shall 
thy  light  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and  thy  healing  shall  spring 
forth  speedily;  and  thy  righteousness  shall  go  before  thee;  the 
glory  of  Jehovah  shall  be  thy  rearward.  9  Then  shalt  thou  call, 
and  Jehovah  will  answer;  thou  shalt  cry,  and  he  will  say,  Here  I 
am. 

If  thou  take  away  from  the  midst  of  thee  the  yoke,  the  putting 
forth  of  the  finger,  and  speaking  wickedly;  10  and  if  thou  draw 
out  thy  soul  to  the  hungry,  and  satisfy  the  afflicted  soul:  then  shall 
thy  light  rise  in  darkness,  and  thine  obscurity  be  as  the  noonday; 
11  and  Jehovah  will  guide  thee  continually,  and  satisfy  thy  soul  in 
dry  places,  and  make  strong  thy  bones;  and  thou  shalt  be  like  a 
watered  garden,  and  like  a  spring  of  water,  whose  waters  fail  not. 

“These  things  shall  be — a  loftier  rage 

Than  e’er  the  world  hath  known  shall  rise 
With  flame  of  freedom  in  their  souls, 

And  light  of  knowledge  in  their  eyes. 

“Nation  with  nation,  land  with  land, 

Unarmed  shall  live  as  comrades  free; 

In  every  heart  and  brain  shall  throb 
The  pulse  of  one  fraternity. 

“New  arts  shall  bloom  of  loftier  mold, 

And  mightier  music  thrill  the  skies, 

And  every  life  shall  be  a  song, 

When  all  the  earth  is  paradise.”  — John  A.  Symonds. 

tot  SDftfU  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  hast  shared  the  bur¬ 
dens  and  sorrows  of  thy  down-trodden  children ;  give  thine  aid,  we  beseech 
thee,  to  all  those  in  the  industrial  world  who  are  seeking  the  means  to  a 
greater  freedom  and  fuller  life.  Grant  them  patience  and  firmness,  that 
they  may  gain  their  just  demands  without  resort  to  violence.  Give  wisdom 
and  courage  to  all  who  are  seeking  better  ways  of  making  the  processes  of 
industry  contribute  to  the  highest  development  of  the  workers.  Open  the 
eyes  and  enlarge  the  hearts  of  all  employers,  that  they  may  deal  in  justice, 
generosity,  and  love  with  those  whom  they  employ.  And  grant  to  us  all  a 
larger  sympathy  and  deeper  earnestness,  that  we  may  help  to  bring  in  the 
real  brotherhood  of  thy  blessed  kingdom.”  Amen. — Frederick  Harris 
(b.  1873). 


28 


ASPIRATION 


JANUARY  29 

&  SDttptt  i&digiou^  experience 


Uet^e  (or  t§e  SDftJH  “Till  we  all  attain  unto  ...  a  full  grown 
man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fullness  of  Christ.” — Ephesians 
4-  1 3* 

Ee0£on(or  tfjeSDa^:  Ephesians  1.  3—8. 

3  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  hath  blessed  us  with  every  spiritual  blessing  in  the  heavenly 
places  in  Christ:  4  even  as  he  chose  us  in  him  before  the  founda¬ 
tion  of  the  world,  that  we  should  be  holy  and  without  blemish 
before  him  in  love:  5  having  foreordained  us  unto  adoption  as 
sons  through  Jesus  Christ  unto  himself,  according  to  the  good 
pleasure  of  his  will,  6  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace,  which 
he  freely  bestowed  on  us  in  the  Beloved:  7  in  whom  we  have  our 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the  forgiveness  of  our  trespasses, 
according  to  the  riches  of  his  grace,  8  which  he  made  to  abound 
toward  us  in  all  wisdom  and  prudence. 


“An  alarming  weakness  among  Christians  is  that  we  are  producing  Christian  ac¬ 
tivities  faster  than  we  are  producing  Christian  experience  and  Christian  faith;  that 
the  discipline  of  our  souls  and  the  deepening  of  our  acquaintance  with  God  are  not 
proving  sufficiently  thorough  to  enable  us  to  meet  the  unprecedented  expansion  of 
opportunity  and  responsibility  of  our  generation.” — John  R.  Mott. 

“Everything  that  raises  our  personal  standard  of  thought  and  purpose,  everything 
that  brings  us  nearer  to  the  stature  of  the  completed  one  in  Christ,  increases  our  power 
for  good,  and  makes  us  more  and  more  a  power  in  the  world  about  us.  When  we  crave 
the  privilege  of  doing  for  others,  it  is  well  for  us  to  realize  the  privilege  of  being  lor 
.others.” 

tOC  SDflJU  “O  God,  thou  art  Life,  Wisdom,  Truth,  Bounty, 
and  Blessedness,  the  Eternal,  the  only  true  God.  My  God  and  my  Lord, 
thou  art  my  hope  and  my  heart’s  joy.  I  confess  with  thanksgiving  that  thou 
hast  made  me  in  thine  image,  that  I  may  direct  all  my  thoughts  to  thee,  and 
love  thee.  Lord,  make  me  to  know  thee  aright,  that  I  may  more  and  more 
love  and  enjoy,  and  possess  thee.  And  since,  in  the  life  here  below,  I  can¬ 
not  fully  attain  this  blessedness,  let  it  at  least  grow  in  me  day  by  day  until 
it  shall  be  fulfilled  at  last  in  the  life  to  come.  Here  let  the  knowledge  of 
thee  be  increased,  and  there  let  it  be  perfected.  Here  let  my  love  to  thee 
grow,  and  there  let  it  ripen ;  that  my  joy  being  here  great  in  hope,  may  there 
in  fruition  be  made  perfect;”  Amen. — Anselm  (1033-1109). 


29 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  30 

^pmtual  Bxnetoal 

l ?tt$t  (Ot  tf)0  “Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God; 

And  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me.” 

— Psalm  51.  10. 

Heston  for  2Dap:  Isaiah  40.  27-31. 

27  Why  sayest  thou,  O  Jacob,  and  speakest,  O  Israel,  My 
way  is  hid  from  Jehovah,  and  the  justice  due  to  me  is  passed  away 
from  my  God?  28  Hast  thou  not  known?  hast  thou  not  heard? 
The  everlasting  God,  Jehovah,  the  Creator  of  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
fainteth  not,  neither  is  weary;  there  is  no  searching  of  his  under¬ 
standing.  29  He  giveth  power  to  the  faint;  and  to  him  that  hath 
no  might  he  increaseth  strength.  30  Even  the  youths  shall  faint 
and  be  weary,  and  the  young  men  shall  utterly  fail:  31  but  they 
that  wait  for  Jehovah  shall  renew  their  strength;  they  shall  mount 
up  with  wings  as  eagles;  they  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary;  they 
shall  walk,  and  not  faint. 

“0  Lord,  I  call  on  thee  when  sore  dismayed 
And  thou  wilt  hear  my  voice  and  lend  me  aid, 

Nor  shall  I  be  of  myriads  afraid, 

For  thou  wilt  ever  be 
The  portion  of  my  lot — thou  savest  me. 

“In  troubled  times  thy  mercy’s  plenteous  store 
Is  full  to  overflowing  evermore, 

And  when  in  straitness  I  my  plaint  outpour, 

With  words  entreating  thee, 

Then  with  enlargement  thou  dost  answer  me. 

“Make  known  thy  love  to  those  that  trust  and  pray, 

To  those  who  hold  thy  name  their  keep  and  stay, 

Waiting  for  thy  salvation  day  by  day. 

Yea,  who,  0  Lord,  but  thee, 

Shall  make  me  glad,  who  else  deliver  me?” 

— Abraham  ben  Ezra  (Trans.  Mrs.  Henry  Lucas). 

Pt &}>ZZ  (or  tf)0  “O  Lord,  we  would  rest  in  thee,  for  in  thee  alone 

is  true  rest  to  be  found.  We  would  forget  our  disappointed  hopes,  our 
fruitless  efforts,  our  trivial  aims,  and  lean  on  thee,  our  Comfort  and  our 
Strength.  .  .  .  We  are  weary  of  our  old  barren  selves.  Separate  us 

from  our  spiritual  past,  and  quicken  within  us  the  seeds  of  a  new  future. 
Transform  us  by  the  breath  of  thy  regenerating  power,  that  life  may  seem 
supremely  beautiful  and  duty  our  highest  privilege,  and  the  only  real  evil 
a  guilty  conscience.  Let  us  be  no  longer  sad,  or  downcast,  or  miserable, 
or  despairing.  Take  from  us  the  old  self.  Give  us  a  new  self,  beautiful  and 
vigorous,  and  joyous.  Let  old  things  pass  away  and  let  all  things  become  new. 
Kindle  within  us  a  flame  of  heavenly  devotion,  so  that  to  us  work  for  thee 
shall  become  a  happiness,  and  rest  in  thee  shall  become  an  energy,  unchecked 
by  fears  within  and  foes  without.  Give  us  love  and  then  we  shall  have  more 
than  all  we  need,  for  thou  art  Love,  thyself,  the  Giver  and  the  Gift.”  Amen. 
■ — Samuel  McComh  (b.  1864). 


30 


ASPIRATION  JANUARY  31 

Jftlleti  lUitlj  1 JFuUnegg  0 1  Goti 


Cot  tfje  2oag;  “  For  in  him  dwelleth  all  the  fullness  of  the  God¬ 
head  bodily,  and  in  him  ye  are  made  full.” — Colossians  2.  9,  10a. 

tot  tfje&ap:  Ephesians  3.  14—21. 

» 

14  For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father,  15  from 
whom  every  family  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is  named,  16  that  he 
would  grant  you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  that  ye 
may  be  strengthened  with  power  through  his  Spirit  in  the  inward 
man;  17  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  through  faith;  to 
the  end  that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  18  may  be  strong 
to  apprehend  with  all  the  saints  what  is  the  breadth  and  length 
and  height  and  depth,  19  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ  which 
passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  may  be  filled  unto  all  the  fullness 
of  God. 

20  Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly 
above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  work- 
eth  in  us,  21  unto  him  be  the  glory  in  the  church  and  in  Christ 
Jesus  unto  all  generations  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 


“When  the  consciousness  of  the  true  source  of  his  existence  first  rises  upon  him, 
and  he  joyfully  resigns  himself  to  it,  till  his  being  is  steeped  in  the  thought,  then  peace 
and  joy  and  blessedness  flow  in  upon  his  soul.” — Fichte. 

“Be  sure  that  God  has  so  much  more  for  the  soul  as  it  goes  on,  becoming  richer 
and  richer;  that  every  new  relationship  of  the  soul  with  God  is  not  merely  a  sign  of 
thankfulness  for  that  which  is  passed  but  a  new  opening  of  our  nature,  into  which 
God  shall  pour  more  and  more  of  himself.  In  each  new  consecration  some  new  gift 
becomes  possible,  and  for  that  new  gift  some  new  consecration  becomes  necessary, 
and  in  that  new  consecration  comes  some  new  gift.  So  the  soul  goes  on  entering  into 
God,  and  receiving  God  unto  himself.” — Phillips  Brooks. 


Pta#tt  Cot  t “We  give  thee  thanks,  Almighty  God,  for  the 
words  spoken  by  that  strong,  stout  soul,  who  tells  us  that  we  may  be  filled 
with  the  fullness  of  God,  Almighty!  When  we  remember  that  all  the  life 
that  has  ever  been  in  this  world  is  part  of  the  fullness  of  God,  then,  Lord 
God,  we  shrink  and  say,  ‘Shall  we  indeed  be  filled  with  the  fullness  of  God?’ 
Lord  God !  we  look  abroad,  and  lo !  the  little  flower  that  blows  is  filled 
with  the  sunlight;  and  the  few  tones  of  the  bird’s  song  are  full  of  sweet¬ 
ness,  and  yet  we  shrink  and  say,  ‘Our  vessel  is  but  earthly,  it  is  small;  shall 

it  hold  the  fullness  of  God?’  Yea,  Lord  God,  Almighty!  our  vessel  may 
be  small,  but  if  it  is  of  thy  fullness  to  be  filled,  it  is  large  enough  for  thee. 

So  be  it.  Let  the  fullness  of  God  pass  by  us,  in  us,  through  us,  that  we 

may  shine  with  thy  fullness;  that  when  we  love,  it  may  be  with  the  fullness 
of  thy  love;  that  so,  being  filled  with  the  fullness  of  God,  we  may  in  this  life 
live  in  the  life  of  God,  and  in  the  world  to  come  know  thy  fullness  forever¬ 
more.  .  .  .  Give  us  all  this  hope  in  thee ;  may  we  cleanse  ourselves 
from  those  low  things  that  hide  thee  from  us,  and  rise  to  the  clear  vision 
of  God.  This  do  we  ask,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 


31 


ASPIRATION 


FEBRUARY  i 


&tftntes>£  to 

PtE£>E  (Ot  tf)C  SDftJU  “Beloved,  now  are  we  children  of  God,  and  it  is 
not  yet  made  manifest  what  we  shall  be.  We  know  that,  if  he  shall  be 
manifested,  we  shall  be  like  him;  for  we  shall  see  him  even  as  he  is.” — 
I  John  3.  2. 

JLe$#OlX  tot  tfte  2Dap:  Romans  8.  26-30. 

26  And  in  like  manner  the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmity: 
for  we  know  not  how  to  pray  as  we  ought;  but  the  Spirit  him¬ 
self  maketh  intercession  for  us  with  groanings  which  cannot  be 
uttered ;  27  and  he  that  searcheth  the  hearts  knoweth  what  is  the 
mind  of  the  Spirit,  because  he  maketh  intercession  for  the  saints 
according  to  the  will  of  God.  28  And  we  know  that  to  them  that 
love  God  all  things  v/ork  together  for  good,  even  to  them  that 
are  called  according  to  his  purpose.  29  For  whom  he  foreknew, 
he  also  foreordained  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son, 
that  he  might  be  the  firstborn  among  many  brethren:  30  and  whom 
he  foreordained,  them  he  also  called :  and  whom  he  called,  them 
he  also  justified:  and  whom  he  justified,  them  he  also  glorified. 


“In  1917-1918  I  studied  the  history  of  all  the  races  of  the  earth,  and  became  con¬ 
vinced  that  the  sole  solution  of  the  evil  of  the  world  is  the  transformation  of  human 
souls,  that  this  cannot  be  brought  about  except  by  means  of  religion,  and  that  the 
most  perfect  and  suitable  is  that  taught  by  Christ.” — Giovanni  Papini. 

“It  could  be  said  of  him  [Henry  Drummond,  author  of  The  Greatest  Thing  in  the 
World ]  truthfully,  as  it  was  said  of  the  early  apostles,  ‘that  men  took  knowledge  of 
him  that  he  had  been  with  Jesus.’  Some  men  take  an  occasional  journey  into  the 
thirteenth  of  First  Corinthians,  but  he  lived  there  constantly.  As  you  read  what  he 
terms  the  analysis  of  love,  you  find  that  all  its  ingredients  were  interwoven  into  his 
daily  life,  making  him  one  of  the  most  lovable  men  I  have  ever  known.  Was  it  courtesy 
you  looked  for,  he  was  a  perfect  gentleman.  Was  it  kindness,  he  was  always  pre¬ 
ferring  another.  Was  it  humility,  he  was  simple  and  not  courting  favor.  .  .  .  Never 
have  1  known  a  man  who,  in  my  opinion,  lived  nearer  the  Master,  or  sought  to  do  his 
will  more  fully.” — D.  L.  Moody. 

fOE  tj)C  SDftJU  “O  our  God,  we  heartily  thank  thee  for  the  mercies 
vve  are  continually  receiving  and  for  all  thy  goodness.  We  put  ourselves 
into  thy  hands.  Help  us  to  correct  all  our  evil  ways.  Keep  us  close  to 
thee.  Give  us  more  and  more  grace.  Fill  us  with  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Make 
Christ  very  precious  to  our  souls.  May  we  lean  upon  him  day  by  day  and 
trust  him  with  a  simple  faith.  Breathe  into  our  souls,  O  God,  holy  and 
heavenly  desires.  Give  us  clean  hearts  and  renew  right  spirits  within  us. 
Confirm  us  to  thine  own  image.  Make  us  like  our  Saviour.  Enable  us  in 
some  measure  to  live  here  on  earth  as  he  lived,  and  to  act  in  all  things,  as  he 
would  have  acted.  Grant  that  we  may  profit  by  what  we  have  read  from  thy 
holy  Word.  We  thank  thee  for  all  the  means  of  grace  which  we  enjoy. 
Teach  us  thine  own  self  and  lead  us  into  the  knowledge  and  love  of  thy 
truth.  Be  with  our  dear  relations.  May  they  be  very  dear  to  thee.  If  any  of 
them  are  afar  off,  O  bring  them  home,  gracious  Lord,  to  thy  fold.  For  Jesus’ 
sake.”  Amen.  (Adapted.) — Ashton  Oxenden  (1808-1892). 

32 


ASPIRATION 


FEBRUARY  2 


dftrototf)  tn  d5tace 

Wzz&z  tor  tSe  SDag;  “  Grow  in  the  grace  and  knowledge  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.” — 2  Peter  3.  18. 

Easton  toztf^z  SDag;  Colossiatis  1.  9—14. 

9  For  this  cause  we  also,  since  the  day  we  heard  it,  do  not 
cease  to  pray  and  make  request  for  you,  that  ye  may  be  filled  with 
the  knowledge  of  his  will  in  all  spiritual  wisdom  and  under¬ 
standing,  10  to  walk  worthily  of  the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing,  bear¬ 
ing  fruit  in  every  good  work,  and  increasing  in  the  knowledge 
of  God;  11  strengthened  with  all  power,  according  to  the  might  of 
his  glory,  unto  all  patience  and  longsuffering  with  joy;  12  giving 
thanks  unto  the  Father,  who  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the 
inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light;  13  who  delivered  us  out  of 
the  power  of  darkness,  and  translated  us  into  the  kingdom  of  the 
Son  of  his  love;  14  in  whom  we  have  our  redemption,  the  for¬ 
giveness  of  our  sins. 


“Is  your  character  compacting  toward  patience,  gentleness,  truth,  love?  Or 
toward  impatience,  harshness,  falsehood,  and  selfishness?  We  grow  always  in  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  our  daily  living.” — J.  R.  Miller. 


“The  aspiration  of  every  earnest  Christian  is  to  grow  every  day  in  holiness  and 
spirituality.  This  motive  is  to  rule  all  life.  Our  business,  our  associations,  our  friend¬ 
ships  are  to  be  chosen  with  reference  to  this  one  object.  Anything  that  tarnishes  the'-*' 
luster  of  our  spirituality  or  hinders  the  development  of  our  Christian  graces,  or  breaks 
the  inner  place  of  our  hearts,  or  interferes  with  our  communion  with  God,  is  harmful 
and  must  be  excluded  from  our  lives.” — J.  R.  Miller. 


J&Z&1PZZ  f0t  tjjt  “Give  us  grace,  O  our  God,  to  listen  to  thy  call, 

to  obey  thy  voice,  and  to  follow  thy  guiding.  Thou  leadest  us  to  pleasures 
that  never  fade,  to  riches  which  no  moth  nor  rust  can  corrupt  or  destroy. 
Unsearchable  riches  are  in  thy  hand.  O  give  us  grace  to  know  the  value 
of  them  and  to  covet  them.  Thou  leadest  us  to  fountains  of  living  water, 
suffer  us  not  to  wander  or  turn  aside  till  we  attain  unto  the  pleasures  which 
are  at  thy  right  hand  for  evermore.  Establish,  settle,  strengthen  us,  that 
our  goodness  may  not  be  like  the  early  dew,  which  passeth  away,  but  make 
us  steadfast,  immovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  for¬ 
asmuch  as  we  know  that  our  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  Grant  this, 
we  beseech  thee,  for  thy  dear  Son,  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — Ludovicus 
Fives  (1492-1540). 


33 


ASPIRATION 


FEBRUARY  3 
W&t  jftiutgi  ot  tlje  Spirit 


fOt  tfjt  “But  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long- 

suffering,  kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness,  meekness,  self-control.” — Gala- 
turns  5.  22,  23a. 

2£t££0n(0tt5e2Dap:  Matthew  7.  16-20. 

16  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them.  Do  men  gather  grapes 
of  thorns,  or  figs  of  thistles?  17  Even  so  every  good  tree  bringeth 
forth  good  fruit;  but  the  corrupt  tree  bringeth  forth  evil  fruit. 
18  A  good  tree  cannot  bring  forth  evil  fruit,  neither  can  a  corrupt 
tree  bring  forth  good  fruit.  19  Every  tree  that  bringeth  not  forth 
good  fruit  is  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the  fire.  20  Therefore  by 
their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them. 


“It  seems  as  if  God  gathered  into  his  storehouse,  from  each  of  our  lives,  fruit  in 
which  he  delights.  And  the  daily  cross-bearings  and  self-denials,  the  bright  word  spoken 
when  head  and  heart  are  weary,  the  meek  endurance  of  misunderstanding,  the  steady 
going  on  in  one  unbroken  round,  with  a  patient  cheerfulness  that  knows  nothing  of 
‘moods’ — all  these  are  garnered  there,  and  add  to  our  riches  toward  him.” — H.  Bowman. 


“Patience,  kindness,  generosity,  humility,  courtesy,  unselfishness,  good  temper, 
guilelessness,  sincerity — these  make  up  the  supreme  gift,  the  stature  of  the  perfect 
man.  Religion  is  not  a  strange  or  added  thing,  but  the  inspiration  of  the  secular  life, 
the  breathing  of  an  eternal  spirit  through  this  temporal  life.” — Henry  Drummond. 

fot  tj)£  “O  eternal  Father,  help  us,  we  beseech  thee,  to 

bring  forth  in  our  lives  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit:  the  fruit  of  Love,  that  we 
may  love  thee  above  all  things,  and  all  others  in  thee  and  for  thy  sake;  the 
fruit  of  Joy,  that  we  may  find  thy  service  our  delight;  the  fruit  of  Peace, 
that,  pardoned  and  accepted  through  thy  mercy,  we  may  repose  in  thy  love; 
the  fruit  of  Long-suffering,  that  we  may  bear,  with  patient  submission  to 
thy  will,  all  crosses  and  afflictions;  the  fruit  of  Gentleness,  that  we  may  sub¬ 
due  all  risings  of  temper  and  take  calmly  and  sweetly  all  trials  and  provoca¬ 
tions;  the  fruit  of  Meekness,  that  we  may  forgive  freely  all  who  may  hurt 
us,  either  by  word  or  deed,  and  endure  with  patience  all  that  may  be  laid 
upon  us;  the  fruit  of  Temperance,  that  we  may  restrain  all  our  desires,  bring¬ 
ing  them  into  subjection  in  all  things  to  thy  holy  will.”  Amen. 


34 


ASPIRATION 


FEBRUARY  4 

Wbe  £t?orr  ftbuntiant  Hite 


Wcz$t  tot  tlje  2D ap:  “I  came  that  they  may  have  life,  and  may  have  it 
abundantly.” — John  10.  10b. 

Easton  for  tf)e2Dap:  2  Peter  1.  1-4. 

1  Simon  Peter,  a  servant  and  apgstle  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  them 
that  have  obtained  a  like  precious  faith  with  us  in  the  righteous¬ 
ness  of  our  God  and  the  Saviour  Jesus  Christ:  2  Grace  to  you 
and  peace  be  multiplied  in  the  knowledge  of  God  and  of  Jesus  our 
Lord ;  3  seeing  that  his  divine  power  hath  granted  unto  us  all 
things  that  pertain  unto  life  and  godliness,  through  the  knowledge 
of  him  that  called  us  by  his  own  glory  and  virtue ;  4  whereby  he 
hath  granted  unto  us  his  precious  and  exceeding  great  promises; 
that  through  these  ye  may  become  partakers  of  the  divine  nature, 
having  escaped  from  the  corruption  that  is  in  the  world  by  lust. 

“We  live  in  deeds,  not  years;  in  thoughts,  not  breaths; 

In  feelings,  not  in  figures  on  a  dial. 

We  count  time  by  heart-throbs.  He  most  lives 
Who  thinks  most,  feels  the  noblest,  acts  the  best.” 


“Life  is  what  we  are  alive  to.  It  is  not  length  but  breadth.  To  be  alive  only 
to  appetite,  pleasure,  pride,  money-making,  and  not  to  goodness  and  kindness,  purity, 
and  love,  history,  poetry,  music,  flowers,  stars,  God  and  eternal  hope,  is  to  be  all  but 

dead.” — Maltbie  D.  Babcock. 

\ 

> 

“’Tis  life,  whereof  our  nerves  are  scant, 

Oh,  life,  not  death,  for  which  we  pant, 

More  life,  and  fuller,  that  I  want.”  — Alfred  Tennyson. 


“Pray  for  and  work  for  fullness  of  life  above  everything:  full  red  blood  in  the  body; 
full  honesty  and  truth  in  the  mind;  and  the  fullness  of  a  grateful  love  for  the  Saviour 
in  our  heart.” — Phillips  Brooks.  . 


$Z&}>ZZ  fOt  tf)Z  2D&JH  “O  blessed  Father,  who  dost  renew  thy  mercies 
with  the  morning,  we  praise  thee  for  every  good  and  perfect  gift  which  flows 
in  on  us  afresh  to-day.  We  thank  thee  for  health  and  reason  and  the 
strength  to  do  our  work,  for  home  and  friendship  and  all  the  gladness  of 
living.  We  thank  thee  for  the  abounding  life — life  more  abundant  opened 
up  to  us  by  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  May  we  enter  fully  into 
our  inheritance  as  his  disciples.  If  our  souls  lie  bound  and  fettered  with 
some  secret  evil  or  sorrow  or  anxious  care,  O  bring  them  out  of  prison  now, 
into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God.  May  we  know  thy  truth, 
and  the  truth  shall  make  us  free.  To  thy  holy  keeping,  O  Christ,  we  com¬ 
mend  each  other,  and  all  who  are  dear  to  us,  the  young  and  the  old,  those 
by  our  side  and  those  far  away.  Make  us  day  by  day  more  faithful  and 
humble,  more  apt  to  catch  thy  whisper,  more  brave  to  carry  thy  cross.  Purge 
our  hearts  from  guile  and  envy  and  bitterness,  and  forgive  all  our  sins, 
O  God,  who  seest  how  much  we  need  to  be  forgiven.  Through  our  only 
Saviour.”  Amen. 


35 


ASPIRATION  FEBRUARY  5 

Jngpmnfi;  (Bootmes#  in  Otijcr# 


C?£E£it  fOE  tl)t  jSDttJU  “Even  so,  let  your  light  shine  before  men;  that  they 
may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in  heaven.” 
— Matthew  5.  16. 

HeggottfoE  tljcSDap:  Philemon  4—7. 

4  I  thank  my  God  always,  making  mention  of  thee  in  my 
prayers,  5  hearing  of  thy  love,  and  of  the  faith  which  thou  hast 
toward  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  toward  all  the  saints;  6  that  the  fellow¬ 
ship  of  thy  faith  may  become  effectual,  in  the  knowledge  of  every 
good  thing  which  is  in  you,  unto  Christ.  7  For  1  had  much  joy 
and  comfort  in  thy  love,  because  the  hearts  of  the  saints  have 
been  refreshed  through  thee,  brother. 


“A  traveler,  toiling  on  a  weary  way 
Found  in  his  path  a  piece  of  fragrant  clay, 

‘This  seems  but  common  earth,’  says  he,  ‘but  how 
Delightful!  it  is  full  of  sweetness  now! 

Whence  is  thy  fragrance?’  From  the  clay  there  grows 
A  voice:  ‘I  have  been  very  near  a  rose.’  ” 

— John  J .  Piatt. 


“Be  noble!  and  the  nobleness  that  lies 

In  other  men,  sleeping,  but  never  dead. 

Will  rise  in  majesty  to  meet  thine  own.” 

— Ja7nes  Russell  Lowell. 


“As  one  lamp  lighteth  another,  nor  is  less. 
So  nobleness  enkindleth  nobleness.” 


$Z&})ZZ  for  t?)e  “O  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  we  thy  children 

come  now  to  thy  feet  with  our  supplications.  We  cannot  live  without  thy 
blessing.  Life  is  too  hard  for  us,  duty  is  too  large.  We  get  discouraged, 
and  our  feeble  hands  hang  down.  We  come  to  thee  with  our  weakness, 
asking  thee  for  strength.  Help  us  always  to  be  of  good  cheer.  Let  us  not 
be  disheartened  by  difficulties.  Let  us  never  doubt  thy  love  or  any  of 
thy  promises.  Give  us  grace  to  be  encouragers  of  others,  never  discouragers. 
Let  us  not  go  about  with  sadness  or  fear  among  men,  but  may  we  be  a  bene¬ 
diction  to  everyone  we  meet,  always  making  life  easier,  never  harder,  for 
those  who  come  within  our  influence.  Help  us  to  be  as  Christ  to  others, 
that  they  may  see  something  of  his  love  in  our  lives,  and  learn  to  love  him 
in  us.  We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  to  receive  our  prayers,  and  to  forgive  our 
sins,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — J.  R.  Miller  (1840-1912). 


36 


ASPIRATION 


FEBRUARY  6 


ptaget  fot  tfje  /Ration 

PttjSf  foe  tlje  &>ag:  “  Do  good  in  thy  pleasure  unto  Zion : 

Build  thou  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.” 

— Psalm  51.  18. 

for  tljeSDag:  Isaiah  54.  13--17. 

13  And  all  thy  children  shall  be  taught  o£  Jehovah;  and  great 
shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children.  14  In  righteousness  shalt  thou 
be  established:  thou  shalt  be  far  from  oppression,  for  thou  shalt 
not  fear;  and  from  terror,  for  it  shall  not  come  near  thee.  15  Be¬ 
hold,  they  may  gather  together,  but  not  by  me:  whosoever  shall 
gather  together  against  thee  shall  fall  because  of  thee.  16  Behold, 
I  have  created  the  smith  that  bloweth  the  fire  of  coals,  and  bring- 
eth  forth  a  weapon  for  his  work;  and  I  have  created  the  waster 
to  destroy.  17  No  weapon  that  is  formed  against  thee  shall  pros¬ 
per;  and  every  tongue  that  shall  rise  against  thee  in  judgment  thou 
shalt  condemn.  This  is  the  heritage  of  the  servants  of  Jehovah, 
and  their  righteousness  which  is  of  me,  saith  Jehovah. 


Address  in  the  Constitutional  Convention:  “In  the  beginning  of  the  contest  with 
Britain,  when  we  were  sensible  of  danger,  we  had  daily  prayers  in  this  room  for  divine 
protection.  Our  prayers,  sir,  were  heard,  and  they  were  graciously  answered.  All 
of  us  who  were  engaged  in  the  struggle  must  have  observed  frequent  instances  of  a 
superintending  Providence  in  our  favor.  To  that  kind  Providence  we  owe  this  happy 
opportunity  of  consulting  in  peace  on  the  means  of  establishing  our  future  national 
felicity;  and  have  we  now  forgotten  this  powerful  Friend,  or  do  we  imagine  we  no  longer 
need  his  assistance?  I  have  lived ,  sir,  a  long  time  [eighty-one  years]  and  the  longer  I 
live  the  more  convincing  proof  I  see  of  this  truth:  that  God  governs  in  the  affairs  of  men. 
And  if  a  sparrow  cannot  fall  to  the  ground  without  his  notice,  is  it  probable  that  an 
empire  can  rise  without  his  aid?...  I  therefore  beg  leave  to  move  that  henceforth 
prayers,  imploring  the  assistance  of  Heaven  and  its  blessing  on  our  deliberations,  be 
held  in  this  assembly  every  morning  before  we  proceed  to  business,  and  that  one  or 
more  of  the  clergy  of  this  city  be  requested  to  officiate  in  that  service.” — Benjamin 
Franklin. 

for  tf)£  SDtljL  We  give  thee  thanks,  O  God,  God  of  our  fathers, 
for  our  goodly  land.  The  ancients  knew  no  lovelier  land  than  ours.  Never 
were  skies  more  blue  nor  fruit  more  fair.  And  as  thou  art  with  us  still 
as  a  people  in  all  thy  works,  be  in  our  hearts,  even  as  thou  wast  in  the 
hearts  of  thy  people  in  the  olden  time.  O  Lord  God,  God  of  the  nations, 
bless  us  and  make  our  nation  to  continue  the  ancient  glory.  In  the  days  of 
old,  when  we  were  few  and  weak  as  a  people,  when  nations  thundered  against 
us  and  the  ark  of  our  liberty  was  in  peril,  thou  didst  deliver  us.  Do  thou 
be  our  help  in  our  present  perils,  O  Lord.  Now  that  we  are  rich  and  strong 
may  we  put  not  our  trust  in  riches  nor  material  power.  As  a  nation  may 
we  seek  thy  truth  and  thy  righteousness.  May  we  do  justly,  and  love  mercy, 
and  walk  humbly  with  our  God.  May  we  put  far  from  us  the  gain  of 
oppressions  and  of  fraud.  May  we  learn  to  use  our  great  strength  in  the 
service  of  mankind.  Raise  up  from  among  us  wise  and  discerning  leaders, 
men  who  fear  God  and  hate  iniquity,  men  who  seek  to  know  thy  will  for 
the  nation,  and  to  do  it.  Hear  thou,  O  God,  for  thy  name’s  sake.  Amen. 

37 


ASPIRATION 


FEBRUARY  7 

City  ot  (Bob 


fOt  tf)C  “And  I  saw  the  holy  city,  new  Jerusalem,  coming 

down  out  of  heaven  from  God,  made  ready  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her 
husband.” — Revelation  21.  2. 

2£e££onfOttf)tSDa£:  Revelation  21.  10-14. 

10  And  he  carried  me  away  in  the  Spirit  to  a  mountain  great 
and  high,  and  showed  me  the  holy  city  Jerusalem,  coming  down 
out  of  heaven  from  God,  11  having  the  glory  of  God:  her  light 
was  like  unto  a  stone  most  precious,  as  it  were  a  jasper  stone, 
clear  as  crystal:  12  having  a  wall  great  and  high;  having  twelve 
gates,  and  at  the  gates  twelve  angels;  and  names  written  thereon, 
which  are  the  names  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  the  children  of  Israel: 
13  on  the  east  were  three  gates;  and  on  the  north  three  gates; 
and  on  the  south  three  gates;  and  on  the  west  three  gates.  14  And 
the  wall  of  the  city  had  twelve  foundations,  and  on  them  twelve 
names  of  the  twelve  apostles  of  the  Lamb. 


“O  Holy  City,  seen  of  John, 

Where  Christ  the  Lamb  doth  reign, 

Within  whose  foursquare  walls  shall  come 
No  night,  no  need,  no  pain, 

And  where  the  tears  are  wiped  from  eyes 
That  shall  not  weep  again! 

“Give  us,  O  God,  the  strength  to  build 
The  city  that  hath  stood, 

Too  long  a  dream,  whose  laws  are  love, 

Whose  ways  are  brotherhood, 

And  where  the  sun  that  shineth  is 
God’s  grace  for  human  good. 

“Already  in  the  mind  of  God 
That  city  riseth  fair — 

Lo,  how  its  splendor  challenges 
The  souls  that  greatly  dare — 

Yea,  bids  us  seize  the  whole  of  life 

And  build  its  glory  there.” — W.  Russell  Bowie. 

Pt tiytt  fOt  SDillG  “O  God,  we  praise  thee  for  the  dream  of  the 
golden  city  of  peace  and  righteousness  which  has  ever  haunted  the  prophets 
of  humanity,  and  we  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  that  at  last  the  people 
have  conquered  the  freedom  and  knowledge  and  power  which  may  avail  to 
turn  into  reality  the  vision  that  so  long  has  beckoned  in  vain.  We  pray 
thee  that  we  may  build  on  the  basis  of  democracy  the  firm  edifice  of  a  coopera¬ 
tive  commonwealth,  in  which  both  government  and  industry  shall  be  of  the 
people  and  by  the  people  and  for  the  people.  May  we,  who  now  live,  see  the 
oncoming  of  the  great  day  of  God,  when  all  men  shall  stand  side  by  side  in 
equal  worth  and  real  freedom,  all  toiling  and  all  reaping,  masters  of  nature 
but  brothers  of  men,  exultant  in  the  tide  of  common  life,  and  jubilant  in  the 
adoration  of  thee,  the  source  of  their  blessings  and  the  Father  of  all.”  Amen. 
— Walter  Rails chenbusch  (1861—1918). 

38 


ASPIRATION 


FEBRUARY  8 


Coming  of  tlje  lungfcom  of  C5ofc 

fOt  tf)E  “He  will  not  fail  nor  be  discouraged,  till  he  have 

set  justice  in  the  earth;  and  the  isles  shall  wait  for  his  law.” — Isaiah  42.  4. 

2tc£s>0lt  for  Isaiah  40.  3-5;  55.  10-13. 

3  The  voice  of  one  that  crieth,  Prepare  ye  in  the  wilderness 
the  way  of  Jehovah;  make  level  in  the  desert  a  highway  for  our 
God.  4  Every  valley  shall  be  exalted,  and  every  mountain  and 
hill  shall  be  made  low;  and  the  uneven  shall  be  made  level,  and 
the  rough  places  a  plain:  5  and  the  glory  of  Jehovah  shall  be 
revealed,  and  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together;  for  the  mouth  of 
Jehovah  hath  spoken  it. 

55.  10  For  as  the  rain  cometh  down  and  the  snow  from  heaven, 
and  returneth  not  thither,  but  watereth  the  earth,  and  maketh  it 
to  bring  forth  and  bud,  and  giveth  seed  to  the  sower  and  bread 
to  the  eater;  11  so  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my 
mouth:  it  shall  not  return  unto  me  void,  but  it  shall  accomplish 
that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  I 
sent  it.  12  For  ye  shall  go  out  with  joy,  and  be  led  forth  with 
peace:  the  mountains  and  the  hills  shall  break  forth  before  you 
into  singing;  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  shall  clap  their  hands. 
13  Instead  of  the  thorn  shall  come  up  the  fir  tree;  and  instead  of 
the  brier  shall  come  up  the  myrtle  tree:  and  it  shall  be  to  Jehovah 
for  a  name,  for  an  everlasting  sign  that  shall  not  be  cut  off. 

“If  you  do  not  wish  for  his  kingdom,  don’t  pray  for  it.  But  if  you  do,  you  must 
do  more  than  pray  for  it;  you  must  work  for  it.” — John  Ruskin. 

“No  ideal  of  a  perfect  state,  no  dream  of  a  golden  age  or  paradise  restored,  which 
has  ever  visited  the  imagination  of  genius,  or  risen  before  the  rapt  gaze  of  inspired 
seer  or  prophet,  can  surpass  that  future  of  universal  light  and  love  which  Christianity 
encourages  us  to  expect  as  the  destiny  of  our  race — that  time  when  human  society 
shall  be  permeated  through  and  through  with  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  whole 
race,  and  every  individual  member  of  it,  shall  rise  to  the  point  of  moral  and  spiritual 
elevation  which  that  life  represents,  when  we  shall  ‘all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith, 
and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the 
stature  of  the  fullness  of  Christ.’  ” — John  Caird. 

PtagtE  (Ot  t f)t  SDrtJN  “O  Father  of  light,  and  giver  of  all  wisdom,  bless 
every  society  formed  for  the  spread  and  advancement  of  thy  truth,  at  home 
and  abroad.  Look  with  favor  on  all  missionaries.  O  prepare  the  way  in 
the  wilderness.  Let  thy  word  have  free  course  everywhere.  May  it  never 
return  unto  thee  void,  but  prosper  abundantly,  and  accomplish  all  that  for 
which  thou  dost  send  it.  Give  thy  servants  health  and  strength,  vigor  of  mind, 
and  devotedness  of  heart;  and  may  they  all  be  chosen  vessels  to  bear  thy 
name  before  the  gentiles.  May  the  deadening  influence  of  climate,  heathen 
customs,  and  loss  of  means  of  grace  be  more  than  counteracted  by  a  special 
supply  of  thy  Holy  Spirit.  .  .  .  Grant  that  thousands  and  tens  of  thou¬ 

sands  may  rise  up  to  call  thee  blessed.  May  the  little  leaven  leaven  the  whole 
lump ;  and  all  nations  whom  thou  hast  made,  worship  before  thee,  and  glorify 
thy  name,  through  thy  dear  Son.”  Amen. — Hannah  More  (1745-1833), 

39 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  9 

$Dtu  SDailg 


f0E  t!)C  SDilJU  “Exhort  one  another  day  by  day,  so  long  as  it  is 
called  To-day;  lest  any  one  of  you  be  hardened  by  the  deceitfulness  of 
sin.” — Hebrews  3.  13. 

I  Peter  4.  7“ II* 

7  But  the  end  of  all  things  is  at  hand:  be  ye  therefore  of  sound 
mind,  and  be  sober  unto  prayer:  8  above  all  things  being  fervent 
in  your  love  among  yourselves;  for  love  covereth  a  multitude  of 
sins:  9  using  hospitality  one  to  another  without  murmuring:  10  ac¬ 
cording  as  each  hath  received  a  gift,  ministering  it  among  your¬ 
selves,  as  good  stewards  of  the  manifold  grace  of  God;  11  if  any 
man  speaketh,  speaking  as  it  were  oracles  of  God;  if  any  man 
ministereth,  ministering  as  of  the  strength  which  God  supplieth: 
that  in  all  things  God  may  be  glorified  through  Jesus  Christ, 
whose  is  the  glory  and  the  dominion  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 

“To  love  some  one  more  dearly  every  day, 

To  help  a  wandering  child  to  find  his  way 
To  ponder  over  noble  thoughts  and  pray, 

And  smile  when  evening  falls, 

This  is  my  task. 

“To  follow  truth  as  blind  men  long  for  light, 

To  do  my  best  from  dawn  of  day  till  night, 

To  keep  my  heart  fit  for  his  holy  sight, 

And  answer  when  he  calls, 

This  is  my  task. 

“And  then  my  Saviour  by  and  by  to  meet, 

When  faith  hath  made  her  task  on  earth  complete 
And  lay  my  homage  at  the  Master’s  feet 
Within  the  jasper  walls, 

This  crowns  my  task.” 

— E.  L.  Ashford. 

fOE  tj)£  “Almighty  and  everlasting  God,  who  of  thine  in¬ 

finite  goodness  hast  revealed  thyself  unto  us,  forgive  us  all  the  sins  that  we 
have  committed  against  thee,  whether  by  negligence  or  by  ignorance,  by 
omission  or  commission  through  overmuch  occupation,  or  by  reason  of  the 
weakness  of  human  nature.  O  Lord,  we  beseech  thee  to  bless,  govern  and 
sanctify  all  schools  of  sound  learning.  Raise  up  faithful  members  of  thy 
church  and  prosper  all  such  good  works  as  through  thy  guidance  they  shall 
begin  and  carry  on.  Stir  up  and  strengthen  our  hearts  and  minds  in  the 
true  worship  of  thee  by  thy  Holy  Spirit;  and  let  all  members  of  thy  church 
be  so  enlightened  by  thy  word  and  gospel  that  they  may  neither  run  after 
social  enticements  nor  fanatical  errors.  Give  unto  us  the  spirit  of  wisdom 
and  of  a  sound  mind,  not  fearing  to  make  a  good  confession,  neither  doubt¬ 
ing  nor  despising,  that  we  be  not  like  men  sporting  with  divers  opinions,  and 
carried  about  by  every  wind  of  doctrine.  Control  in  us  all  evil  desires,  and 
so  govern  our  thoughts  and  deeds  that  we  may  serve  thee  in  righteousness, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Philip  Melanchthon  (1497—1560). 

40 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  io 


SDomg  as»  Midi  a&  MU  lutoto 

tPet&e  tot  tfjt  SDap:  “  To  him  therefore  that  knoweth  to  do  good,  and 
doeth  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin.” — James  4.  17. 

Osteon  (or  tljeSDa#:  Luke  12.  42-48. 

42  And  the  Lord  said,  Who  then  is  the  faithful  and  wise 
steward,  whom  his  lord  set  over  his  household,  to  give  them  their 
portion  of  food  in  due  season?  43  Blessed  is  that  servant,  whom 
his  lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  so  doing.  44  Of  a  truth  I  say 
unto  you,  that  he  will  set  him  over  all  that  he  hath.  45  But  if  that 
servant  shall  say  in  his  heart,  My  lord  delayeth  his  coming;  and 
shall  begin  to  beat  the  menservants  and  the  maidservants,  and  to  eat 
and  drink,  and  to  be  drunken;  46  the  lord  of  that  servant  shall 
come  in  a  day  when  he  expecteth  not,  and  in  an  hour  when  he 
knoweth  not,  and  shall  cut  him  asunder,  and  appoint  his  portion 
with  the  unfaithful.  47  And  that  servant,  who  knew  his  lord’s 
will,  and  made  not  ready,  nor  did  according  to  his  will,  shall  be 
beaten  with  many  stripes ;  48  but  he  that  knew  not,  and  did  things 
worthy  of  stripes,  shall  be  beaten  with  few  stripes.  And  to  whom¬ 
soever  much  is  given,  of  him  shall  much  be  required :  and  to  whom 
they  commit  much,  of  him  will  they  ask  the  more. 


“Do  all  the  good  you  can, 

By  all  the  means  you  can, 

In  all  the  ways  you  can, 

At  all  the  times  you  can, 

As  long  as  ever  you  can.” 

— John  Wesley. 


“I  have  always  taught,  and  do  teach,  and  shall  teach,  I  doubt  not,  till  I  die,  that 
in  resolving  to  do  our  work  well  is  the  only  sound  foundation  of  any  religion  whatso¬ 
ever.” — John  Ruskin. 


“When  we  do  the  best  we  can,  we  never  know  what  miracle  is  wrought  in  our 
life,  or  in  the  life  of  another.” — Helen  Keller. 


(or  t!)e  £>ag:  “  O  thou  plenteous  Source  of  every  good  and  perfect 
gift,  shed  abroad  the  cheering  light  of  thy  sevenfold  grace  over  our  hearts. 
Yea,  Spirit  of  love  and  gentleness,  we  most  humbly  implore  thy  assistance. 
Thou  knowest  our  faults,  our  failings,  our  necessities,  the  dullness  of  our 
understanding,  the  waywardness  of  our  affections,  the  perverseness  of  our 
will.  When,  therefore,  we  neglect  to  practice  what  we  kno%v,  visit  us,  we 
beseech  thee,  with  thy  grace,  enlighten  our  minds,  rectify  our  desires,  correct 
our  wanderings,  and  pardon  our  omissions,  so  that  by  thy  guidance  we  may 
be  preserved  from  making  shipwreck  of  faith,  and  keep  a  good  conscience, 
and  may  at  length  be  landed  safe  in  the  haven  of  eternal  rest;  through  Jesus 
Christ*  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Anselm  (1033— 1109). 


41 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  n 


Bring  flint  to  <0ttt  Mta\$ 

\Ptl0C  fOt  tljr  “They  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God, 

in  truth  and  in  righteousness. ” — Zechariah  8.  8. 

JLt$$on  for  tSr  2Dap:  Pkilippians  4.  8,  9. 

8  Finally,  brethren,  whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever 
things  are  honorable,  whatsoever  things  are  just,  whatsoever  things 
are  pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of 
good  report;  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there  be  any  praise, 
think  on  these  things.  9  The  things  which  ye  both  learned  and 
received  and  heard  and  saw  in  me,  these  things  do:  and  the  God 
of  peace  shall  be  with  you. 


“Live  in  pulses  stirred  to  generosity; 

In  deeds  of  daring  rectitude;  in  scorn 
For  miserable  aims  that  end  with  self; 

In  thoughts  sublime  that  pierce  the  night  like  stars, 

And  with  their  mild  persistence  urge  men’s  search  to  vaster  issues.” 

— George  Eliot. 


“I  am  not  bound  to  win,  but  I  am  bound  to  be  true.  I  am  not  bound  to  succeed, 
but  I  am  bound  to  live  up  to  the  light  I  have.  ...  I  am  nothing,  but  truth  is  every¬ 
thing.” — Abraham  Lincoln. 


fOt  tf)C  2DCIJU  “Grant  us,  we  beseech  thee,  almighty  and  most  mer¬ 
ciful  God,  fervently  to  desire,  wisely  to  search  out,  and  perfectly  to  fulfill 
all  that  is  well-pleasing  unto  thee  this  day.  Order  thou  our  worldly  condi¬ 
tion  to  the  glory  of  thy  Name;  and,  of  all  that  thou  requirest  us  to  do, 
grant  us  the  knowledge,  the  desire,  and  the  ability,  that  we  may  so  fulfill 
it  as  we  ought ;  and  may  our  path  to  thee,  we  pray,  be  safe,  straightforward, 
and  perfect  to  the  end.  Give  us,  O  Lord,  a  steadfast  heart,  which  no 
unworthy  affection  may  drag  downward ;  give  us  an  unconquered  heart, 
which  no  tribulation  can  wear  out;  give  us  an  upright  heart,  which  no  un¬ 
worthy  purpose  may  tempt  aside.  Bestow  upon  us  also,  O  Lord  our  God, 
understanding  to  know  thee,  diligence  to  seek  thee,  wisdom  to  find  thee,  and 
a  faithfulness  that  may  finally  embrace  thee;  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.”  Amen. — Thomas  Aquinas  (1225-1274). 


42 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  12 


Elbtltff  to t  C3oti 

Utttfe  for  t&e  $Dag:  “  For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ.” — Philip  plans  1.  21. 
Heston  tot  tfje  2Dag;  Psalm  63.  1-4,  7,  8. 

1  O  God,  thou  art  my  God;  earnestly  will  I  seek  thee: 

My  soul  thirsteth  for  thee,  my  flesh  longeth  for  thee, 

In  a  dry  and  weary  land,  where  no  water  is. 

2  So  have  I  looked  upon  thee  in  the  sanctuary, 

To  see  thy  power  and  thy  glory. 

3  Because  thy  lovingkindness  is  better  than  life, 

My  lips  shall  praise  thee. 

4  So  will  I  bless  thee  while  I  live: 

I  will  lift  up  my  hands  in  thy  name. 

7  For  thou  hast  been  my  help, 

And  in  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  rejoice. 

8  My  soul  followeth  hard  after  thee: 

Thy  right  hand  upholdeth  me. 

“God  should  be  the  object  of  all  our  desires,  the  end  of  all  our  actions,  the  prin¬ 
ciple  of  all  our  affections,  and  the  governing  power  of  our  whole  souls.” — Massillon. 

“The  bird  let  loose  in  Eastern  skies 
When  hastening  fondly  home, 

Ne’er  stops  to  earth  her  wing,  nor  flies 
Where  idle  warblers  roam. 

But  high  she  shoots,  through  air  and  light. 

Above  all  low  delay, 

Where  nothing  earthly  bounds  her  flight 
Nor  shadow  dims  her  way. 

“So  grant  me,  God,  from  every  care 
And  stain  of  passion  free, 

Aloft,  through  virtue’s  purer  air, 

To  hold  my  course  to  thee! 

No  sin  to  cloud,  no  lure  to  stay 
My  soul,  as  home  she  springs, 

Thy  sunshine  on  her  joyful  way. 

Thy  freedom  in  her  wings.”  — Thomas  Moore. 

fOt  tfyt  “O  God,  our  everlasting  hope,  who  holdest  us  in 

life,  and  orderest  our  lot;  we  ask  not  for  any  prosperity  that  would  tempt 
us  to  forget  thee.  As  disciples  of  One  who  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head, 
may  we  freely  welcome  the  toils  and  sufferings  of  our  humanity,  and  seek 
only  strength  to  glorify  the  cross  thou  layest  on  us.  Every  work  of  our 
hand  may  we  do  as  unto  thee ;  in  every  trouble  trace  some  lights  of  thine 
and  let  no  blessing  fall  on  dry  and  thankless  hearts.  Redeeming  the  time, 
may  we  fill  every  waking  hour  with  faithful  duty  and  well-ordered  affec¬ 
tions,  as  the  sacrifice  which  thou  hast  provided.  Strip  us,  O  Lord,  of  every 
proud  thought;  fill  us  with  patient  tenderness  for  others,  seeing  that  we  also 
are  in  the  same  case  before  thee,  and  make  us  ready  to  help  and  quick  to 
forgive.  And  then  fix  every  grace,  compose  every  fear,  by  a  steady  trust  in 
thine  eternal  realities,  behind  the  changes  of  time  and  the  delusions  of  men. 
Thou  art  our  Rock:  we  rest  on  thee.”  Amen. — /.  Martineau  (1805-1900). 

43 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  13 

W&t  lettuce  ot  £obt 


iPei&t  fot  tf)t  SDap:  “Owe  no  man  anything,  save  to  love  one  another: 
for  he  that  loveth  his  neighbor  hath  fulfilled  the  law.” — Romans  13.  8. 

3le^^onfottSe2Da?:  Matthew  26.  6-13. 

6  Now  when  Jesus  was  in  Bethany,  in  the  house  of  Simon  the 
leper,  7  there  came  unto  him  a  woman  having  an  alabaster  cruse 
of  exceeding  precious  ointment,  and  she  poured  it  upon  his  head, 
as  he  sat  at  meat.  8  But  when  the  disciples  saw  it,  they  had 
indignation,  saying,  To  what  purpose  is  this  waste?  9  For  this 
ointment  might  have  been  sold  for  much,  and  given  to  the  poor. 
10  But  Jesus  perceiving  it  said  unto  them,  Why  trouble  ye  the 
woman?  for  she  hath  wrought  a  good  work  upon  me.  11  For  ye 
have  the  poor  always  with  you;  but  me  ye  have  not  always.  12  For 
in  that  she  poured  this  ointment  upon  my  body,  she  did  it  to 
prepare  me  for  burial.  13  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Wheresoever 
this  gospel  shall  be  preached  in  the  whole  world,  that  also  which 
this  woman  hath  done  shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  memorial  of  her. 


“History  for  these  thousand  years  has  not  been  the  history  of  kindness  but  of 
selfishness.  An  acceptance  of  the  sentiment  of  love  would  bring  the  felon  and  the 
outcast  to  our  side  in  tears.  Let  our  affection  flow  out  to  our  fellows;  it  would  operate 
the  greatest  of  revolutions.  Let  the  amelioration  in  our  laws  of  property  proceed 
from  the  concession  of  the  rich,  not  from  the  grasping  of  the  poor.  Let  us  begin  by 
imparting.  The  equitable  rule  is  that  no  one  should  take  more  than  his  share.  Let 
man  be  a  lover.  Love  would  put  a  new  face  on  this  old  world  in  which  we  dwell  as 
pagans  and  enemies.  It  would  warm  the  heart  to  see  the  diplomacy  of  statesmen, 
the  impotence  of  armies  and  navies,  superseded  by  this  unarmed  child.  Love  would 
accomplish  that  which  force  could  never  achieve.” — Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 

tot  “Gracious  and  most  merciful  Father,  thou  hast  been 

the  God  of  thy  people  in  all  generations.  The  poor  have  cried  unto  thee, 
and  thou  hast  heard  them.  Help  us  to  lift  up  our  hearts  unto  thee  in 
prayer;  and  receive  the  humble  and  hearty  thanks  we  give  unto  thee  for  all 
the  blessings  of  another  day.  For  whatever  sins  we  have  committed  against 
thee  we  pray  for  thy  forgiveness.  If  we  have  forgotten  thee,  doubted  thee 
in  our  hearts,  or  denied  thee  with  our  lips,  pardon  us,  we  pray  thee,  for  the 
sake  of  Him  who  came  to  save  even  the  chief  of  sinners.  O  Lord,  thou  hast 
seen  how  we  have  carried  ourselves  toward  our  fellow  men  to-day.  If  we 
have  been  envious  or  proud,  if  we  have  taken  pleasure  in  the  sufferings  of 
any,  if  we  have  been  hard  or  unjust  to  any,  pardon  us,  O  Lord.  May  thy 
grace  be  granted  unto  us  that  we  may  be  enabled  to  live  in  all  the  relations 
of  life,  whether  as  parents  or  as  children,  employers  or  employees,  according 
to  Christ’s  law  of  love.  O  thou  God  of  loVe,  help  us  that  we  shall  account 
ourselves  servants  of  all  in  the  spirit  of  Christ  who  lived  and  died  for  men. 
In  his  name.”  Amen. 


44 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  14 

W&t  Cfjttetian  ^tanbarti  ot  Paltieg. 


tot  tjjt  SDa^t  “But  now  abideth  faith,  hope,  love,  these  three; 
and  the  greatest  of  these  is  love.” — 1  Corinthian's  13.  13. 

JLt$&On  tot  tjitSDap:  Philippians  4.  4-9. 

4  Rejoice  in  the  Lord  always:  again  I  will  say,  Rejoice.  5 
Let  your  forbearance  be  known  unto  all  men.  The  Lord  is  at 
hand.  6  In  nothing  be  anxious;  but  in  everything  by  prayer  and 
supplication  with  thanksgiving  let  your  requests  be  made  known 
unto  God.  7  And  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understand¬ 
ing,  shall  guard  your  hearts  and  your  thoughts  in  Christ  Jesus. 

8  Finally,  brethren,  whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever 
things  are  honorable,  whatsoever  things  are  just,  whatsoever  things 
are  pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of 
good  report;  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there  be  any  praise, 
think  on  these  things.  9  The  things  which  ye  both  learned  and 
received  and  heard  and  saw  in  me,  these  things  do:  and  the  God 
of  peace  shall  be  with  you. 


“To  weigh  the  material  in  the  scales  of  the  personal,  and  measure  life  by  the  stand¬ 
ard  of  love;  to  prize  health  as  contagious  happiness,  wealth  as  potential  service,  repu¬ 
tation  as  latent  influence,  learning  for  the  light  it  can  shed,  power  for  the  help  it  can 
give,  station  for  the  good  it  can  do — to  choose  in  each  case  what  is  best  on  the  whole, 
and  accept  cheerfully  incidental  evils  involved;  to  put  my  whole  self  into  all  that  I 
do,  and  indulge  no  single  desire  at  the  expense  of  myself  as  a  whole;  to  crowd  out  fear 
by  devotion  to  duty,  and  see  present  and  future  as  one;  to  treat  others  as  I  would  be 
treated,  and  myseli  as  I  would  my  best  friend,  and  to  recognize  God’s  coming  kingdom 
in  every  institution  and  person  that  helps  men  to  love  one  another.” — William 
DeWitt  Hyde. 


Pt &ytl  (PE  tf) t  “Grant  us  grace,  O  Lord,  we  pray,  to  live  our 

lives  in  a  Christian  spirit.  May  our  labors,  whether  small  or  great,  he 
ennobled  by  our  loyalty  to  the  principles  of  the.  gospel  of  Christ.  May  we 
honor  thee  by  the  uprightness  and  the  integrity  of  our  conduct,  by  the  un¬ 
selfishness  and  generosity  of  our  spirit,  and  by  our  endeavor  in  all  things 
to  obey  the  law  of  Christ.  May  we  not  covet  the  wealth  of  this  world. 
Whatever  we  justly  gain  by  our  labors  may  we  employ  for  the  good  of 
our  fellow  men  and  the  service  of  our  Lord.  Not  slothful  in  business,  may 
we  be  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord.  Whether  we  eat  or  drink,  or 
whatever  we  do,  may  we  do  all  for  the  glory  of  God.  Save  us  from  luxury 
and  display,  from  pride  and  vainglory,  from  the  snares  of  ambition  and  the 
desire  of  human  applause,  and  help  us  ever  to  walk  humbly  with  our  God. 
May  those  who  are  young  especially  learn  to  value  everything  according  to 
its  tendency  to  make  them  just  and  pure  and  good.  May  they,  and  may  we 
all,  become  truly  wise  through  the  teaching  of  thy  Holy  Spirit.  These 
blessings  we  ask  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. 


45 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  15 

&  &ucce££Cul  ILUt 


UtE#E  f0E  tl)t  SDftJU  “Fight  the  good  fight  of  the  faith,  lay  hold  on  the 
life  eternal.” — 1  Timothy  6.  12. 

2lt££i0SXf0Etf)e£Da£:  2  Timothy  4.  5-8. 

5  But  be  thou  sober  in  all  things,  suffer  hardship,  do  the  work 
of  an  evangelist,  fulfill  thy  ministry.  6  For  I  am  already  being 
offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  come.  7  I  have  fought 
the  good  fight,  I  have  finished  the  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith: 
8  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  the  crown  of  righteousness, 
which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give  to  me  at  that  day: 
and  not  to  me  only,  but  also  to  all  them  that  have  loved  his 
appearing. 


“I  pray  thee,  Lord,  that  when  it  comes  to  me 
To  say  if  I  will  follow  truth  and  thee, 

Or  choose,  instead,  to  win,  as  better  worth 
My  pains,  some  cloying  recompense  of  earth, 

“Grant  me,  great  Father,  from  a  hard-fought  field, 

Forspent  and  bruised,  upon  a  battered  shield, 

Home  to  obscure  endurance  to  be  borne 
Rather  than  live  my  own  mean  ends  to  scorn.” 

— Edward  S.  Martin. 


“And  for  success  I  ask  no  more  than  this — 

To  bear  unflinching  witness  to  the  truth. 

All  true  whole  men  succeed;  for  what  is  worth 
Success’s  name  unless  it  be  the  thought, 

The  inward  surety  to  have  carried  out 
A  noble  purpose  to  a  noble  end, 

Although  it  be  the  gallows  or  the  block.” 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 


fOE  t Our  Father,  we  pray  for  the  mind  of  Christ.  May 
our  ideals  of  success  be  in  accord  with  his  character  and  teachings.  Help 
us  to  realize  that  success  is  to  be  measured  more  by  what  we  are  than  by 
what  man  says  of  us  or  by  the  earthly  honors  and  rewards  which  we  win. 
Above  all  else  may  it  be  our  desire  and  purpose  to  honor  thee  by  integrity  of 
character,  by  righteous  conduct,  by  unselfishness  of  spirit,  and  by  devotion 
to  the  rights  and  welfare  of  others.  Save  us  from  the  snares  of  unworthy 
ambition  and  from  desire  of  human  applause.  May  we  desire  and  seek 
thy  approval  upon  our  every  word  and  work.  (May  those  of  us  who  are 
young  in  years  especially  learn  to  value  everything  according  to  its  tendency 
to  make  us  loving  and  just,  pure  and  good.)  May  we  become  truly  wise 
through  the  guidance  and  counsel  of  thine  Holy  Spirit — the  Spirit  of  eternal 
wisdom  and  truth.  Forgive  us,  we  pray  thee,  wherein  we  have  cherished 
desires  or  purposes,  plans  or  ideals,  that  are  unworthy  of  us  as  thy  children, 
as  disciples  of  thy  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  keep  us  by  thy  power 
and  grace  steadfast  to  the  end.  Amen. 


46 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  16 


W&t  prate  af  mtam 

fat  f!)t  iiciDttp;  “He  that  trusteth  in  his  riches  shall  fall.” — 
Proverbs  II.  28. 

iltstean  fat  tfjt  SDap:  1  Timothy  6.  17—19. 

17  Charge  them  that  are  rich  in  this  present  world,  that  they 
be  not  highminded,  nor  have  their  hope  set  on  the  uncertainty  of 
riches,  but  on  God,  who  giveth  us  richly  all  things  to  enjoy;  18 
that  they  do  good,  that  they  be  rich  in  good  works,  that  they  be 
ready  to  distribute,  willing  to  communicate;  19  laying  up  in  store 
for  themselves  a  good  foundation  against  the  time  to  come,  that 
they  may  lay  hold  on  the  life  which  is  life  indeed. 


“Is  it  to  worship  earthly,  groveling  gold, 

And,  dollar-blinded,  to  look  only  down, 

To  rake  the  muck-heap,  and  forget  the  crown 
Until  youth’s  bounding  blood  creeps  strangely  cold: 
To  dwell  with  envy,  arrogance  and  dread, 

To  barter  all  benevolence  for  dross; 

To  lose  companionship,  nor  feel  its  loss 
Because  the  flower  of  sympathy  is  dead — 

Is  that  success? 


“With  comrade  duty  in  the  dark  or  day 
To  follow  truth  wherever  it  may  lead, 

To  hate  all  meanness,  cowardice  or  greed, 

To  look  for  beauty  under  common  clay, 

Our  brothers’  burdens,  sharing  when  they  weep 
But  if  we  fail,  to  bear  defeat  alone; 

To  live  in  hearts  that  loved  us  when  we’re  gone 
Beyond  the  twilight  (till  the  morning  break)  to  sleep — 
That  is  success!” 


— Anonymous. 


PEft#££  fat  tfjt  Help  us,  O  Father,  to  realize  each  day  that  what¬ 

ever  strength  and  talents  we  have  are  gifts  from  thee.  Teach  us  to  use 
them  not  only  that  they  may  grow  but  that  always  by  them  we  may  know 
thee.  Keep  us  from  losing  our  heads  because  some  success  may  have  crowned 
our  labors.  Let  us  have  no  undue  sense  of  our  importance.  Keep  us  humble, 
companionable,  and  straight.  May  we  ever  be  friendly  with  others  who  have 
tried  and  failed.  Make  us  ever  ready  to  help  the  weak  and  unfortunate. 
Save  us  from  having  the  spirit  of  a  snob  or  a  Pharisee.  Help  us  ever  to  do 
our  best.  If  future  days  have  defeat  for  us,  help  us  to  lose  bravely,  loyally,  and 
as  cheerfully  as  in  times  of  victory.  Whatever  comes  of  praise  or  blame, 
defeat  or  distinction,  of  sacrifice  or  of  service,  help  us  to  follow  in  the  foot¬ 
steps  of  the  Man  of  Nazareth.  In  his  name.  Amen. 


47 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  17 

Ufje  pastor#  of  t fit  a  total 


PEE0E  f0E  t§£  SDa^J  “For  what  doth  it  profit  a  man,  to  gain  the  whole 
world,  and  forfeit  his  life?'’ — Mark  8.  36. 

X^gstonfottljeSDap:  Luke  12.  22-28. 

22  And  he  said  unto  his  disciples,  Therefore  I  say  unto  you, 
Be  not  anxious  for  your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat;  nor  yet  for  your 
body,  what  ye  shall  put  on.  23  For  the  life  is  more  than  the  food, 
and  the  body  than  the  raiment.  24  Consider  the  ravens,  that 
they  sow  not,  neither  reap;  which  have  no  store-chamber  nor  barn; 
and  God  feedeth  them:  of  how  much  more  value  are  ye  than  the 
birds!  25  And  which  of  you  by  being  anxious  can  add  a  cubit  unto 
the  measure  of  his  life?  26  If  then  ye  are  not  able  to  do  even 
that  which  is  least,  why  are  ye  anxious  concerning  the  rest?  27 
Consider  the  lilies,  how  they  grow:  they  toil  not,  neither  do  they 
spin;  yet  I  say  unto  you,  Even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not 
arrayed  like  one  of  these.  28  But  if  God  doth  so  clothe  the  grass 
in  the  field,  which  to-day  is,  and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven; 
how  much  more  shall  he  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith? 


“Many  men  are  mere  warehouses  full  of  merchandise — the  head,  the  heart,  are 
stuffed  with  goods;  .  .  .  there  are  apartments  in  their  souls  which  were  once  tenanted 
by  taste,  and  love,  and  joy,  and  worship,  but  they  are  all  deserted  now,  and  the  rooms 
are  filled  with  earthy  and  material  things.” — Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


“I  call  that  mind  free,  which  escapes  the  bondage  of  matter;  which,  instead  of 
stopping  at  the  material  universe  and  making  it  a  prison-wall,  passes  beyond  it  to  its 
Author,  and  finds,  in  the  radiant  signatures  which  it  everywhere  bears  of  the  Infinite 
Spirit,  helps  to  its  own  spiritual  enlargement.” — William  Ellery  Channing. 


t0E  tf)t  “O  God,  the  Creator  and  Father  of  all  mankind, 

may  we  live  tnis  day  in  the  firm  resolve  to  walk  in  the  paths  of  thy  com¬ 
mandments.  Root  out  from  our  hearts  all  evil  passion  and  vain  affection 
and  whatever  else  might  lead  us  into  sin ;  and  plant  in  their  stead  that  love 
of  purity  and  peace  which  is  of  the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  Suffer  us  not  to 
fall  this  day  into  any  trial  beyond  our  strength:  let  not  health  make  us 
forgetful  of  our  mortality,  nor  prosperity  of  our  dependence  on  thy  providence; 
let  neither  allurement  betray  us,  nor  sudden  temptation  surprise  us  into  sin, 
nor  any  vain  shows  of  a  deceitful  world  be  permitted  to  abuse  our  under¬ 
standings  or  corrupt  our  hearts.  In  our  lives  let  the  spiritual  ever  exert 
the  mastery  over  the  material.  Let  us  not  unduly  seek  the  riches  or  pleasures 
of  life  or  be  too  much  moved  by  its  troubles  and  disappointments.  Rather, 
may  we  seek  such  things  as  please  thee,  delight  in  those  things  which  draw 
us  nearer  thee.  For  Jesus’  sake.”  Amen. — John  McVickar. 


48 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  18 


bp  a  (Bnat  put po&t 

Wtz&t  tot  tf\e  Soap:  “  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  days  were  well- 
nigh  come  that  he  should  be  received  up,  he  steadfastly  set  his  face  to  go 
to  Jerusalem. ” — Luke  9.  51* 

£tggOn  tot  tfitSDap:  Philippians  3-  12-16. 

12  Not  that  I  have  already  obtained,  or  am  already  made  per¬ 
fect:  but  I  press  on,  if  so  be  that  I  may  lay  hold  on  that  for 
which  also  I  was  laid  hold  on  by  Christ  Jesus.  13  Brethren,  I 
count  not  myself  yet  to  have  laid  hold:  but  one  thing  I  do,  forget¬ 
ting  the  things  which  are  behind,  and  stretching  forward  to  the 
things  which  are  before,  14  I  press  on  toward  the  goal  unto  the 
prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  15  Let  us  there¬ 
fore,  as  many  as  are  perfect,  be  thus  minded:  and  if  in  anything  ye 
are  otherwise  minded,  this  also  shall  God  reveal  unto  you:  16 
only,  whereunto  we  have  attained,  by  that  same  rule  let  us  walk. 


“I  do  not  want  merely  to  possess  a  faith;  I  want  a  faith  that  possesses  me.” — ■ 
Charles  Kingsley. 


“It  is  unworthy  of  us,  it  is  inexpedient  and  unprofitable,  to  be  so  often  discussing 
little  questions  of  conduct,  little  matters  of  casuistry.  Cannot  we  settle  these  into 
some  grand  principle,  so  that  they  shall  adjust  themselves  to  our  life  as  the  waves 
adjust  themselves  to  the  ship  that  is  sailing  through  them?  Sometimes  we  meet  these 
questions  as  if  they  were  a  swarm  of  gnats,  fighting  them  one  by  one;  when,  it  we  would 
only  move  on,  we  should  leave  them  behind,  and  then  in  the  cool  clear  air  we  could 
do  the  work  which  we  have  planned  to  do.” — Alexander  McKenzie. 


Pta^tt  (DC  SDa#  J  “O  God,  who  art  the  only  Saviour  of  men,  deliver 
us  from  selfish  ambition,  and  from  the  pursuit  of  low  and  unworthy  ideals, 
and  inspire  us  with  a  great  purpose.  For  all  faithful  witnesses  who  have 
sealed  their  testimony  with  their  lives  we  render  thanks  to  thee :  may  those 
who  now  run  the  Christian  race,  and  fight  the  battles  of  faith,  be  animated 
by  their  example.  Give  us  courage  for  the  difficult  duties  to  which  thou 
hast  called  us,  and  may  we  render  ourselves  to  thee,  living  sacrifices,  glorifying 
thee  in  our  body  and  spirit  which  are  thine.  Reveal  thy  universal  grace, 
O  God,  thy  care  for  all  thy  creatures,  thy  will  to  bless  and  save.  To  them 
that  are  in  danger  grant  a  refuge  in  thy  power,  and  may  those  who  are 
appointed  to  die  rest  on  Him  who  has  taken  away  the  sting  of  death.  In 
the  secret  sorrows  and  heart-breakings  of  life,  in  the  deep  sense  of  sin  and 
short-coming,  let  thy  grace  in  Jesus  Christ  bring  the  healing  balm  and  sweet 
assurance  of  hope.  For  his  sake.”  Amen. 


49 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  19 

^Dbetcomutg;  tijc  Mlotlti 


fOt  t!)C  2D  ft#:  “This  is  the  victory  that  hath  overcome  the  world, 
even  our  faith.” — 1  John  5.  4  1.  c. 

tOO  tj)t  2Da#:  Revelation  7.9,  10,  1 3~  1 5- 

9  After  these  things  I  saw,  and  behold,  a  great  multitude, 
which  no  man  could  number,  out  of  every  nation  and  of  all  tribes 
and  peoples  and  tongues,  standing  before  the  throne  and  before  the 
Lamb,  arrayed  in  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands;  10  and 
they  cry  with  a  great  voice,  saying,  Salvation  unto  our  God  who 
sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb.  13  And  one  of 
the  elders  answered,  saying  unto  me,  These  that  are  arrayed  in 
the  white  robes,  who  are  they,  and  whence  came  they?  14  And  I 
say  unto  him,  My  lord,  thou  knowest.  And  he  said  to  me,  These 
are  they  that  come  out  of  the  great  tribulation,  and  they  washed 
their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  15 
Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of  God;  and  they  serve  him 
day  and  night  in  his  temple:  and  he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne 
shall  spread  his  tabernacle  over  them. 


“From  strength  to  strength  go  on! 

Wrestle  and  fight  and  pray! 

Tread  all  the  powers  of  darkness  down. 

And  win  the  well-fought  day!” 

— Charles  Wesley. 

“What  is  victory  over  the  world?  It  is  to  cut  off,  as  far  as  we  may,  every  hold 
which  everything  out  of  God  has  over  us;  to  study  wherein  we  are  weak,  and  there 
seek  in  his  strength  to  be  made  strong.  Be  your  temptation  the  love  of  pleasure,  it  is 
to  forego  it;  if  of  food,  to  restrain  it;  if  of  praise,  to  put  forward  others  rather  than 
yourself;  if  of  being  right  in  the  sight  of  men,  be  content  to  be  misjudged,  and  to  keep 
silence;  if  of  self-indulgence,  use  hardness;  if  of  display,  cut  off  the  occasions  and  give 
to  the  poor;  if  of  having  thine  own  will,  practice  the  submission  of  it  to  the  wills  of 
others.” — Edward  B.  Pusey. 


Ptapot  for  tge  £Day:  “  O  God,  our  Father,  accomplish  thy  perfect  work 
in  our  souls;  let  us  become  day  by  day  purer,  freer,  more  heavenly,  more 
happy,  and  preserve  us  unto  eternal  life.  Bless,  animate,  and  sustain  us,  and 
raise  us  mightily  above  all  that  would  distract  us,  to  thyself  and  the  con¬ 
sciousness  of  thy  fellowship  which  gives  joy  to  all  who  dwell  therein.  As 
yet  we  are  bound  with  many  chains;  we  tarry  among  things  seen  and  tem¬ 
poral,  and  feel  their  oppression ;  we  are  exposed  to  the  storms  of  the  outer 
world,  and  are  wrestling  with  its  ills.  But  we  are  not  dismayed,  for  we  are 
more  than  earth  and  dust,  we  are  akin  to  thee,  O  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  and 
can  experience  thy  heavenly  influence.  Thou  bearest  witness  with  our  spirits 
that  we  are  the  children  of  God;  when  we  know  not  how  to  pray  aright, 
plead  thou  for  us  with  sighs  that  cannot  be  uttered.  .  .  .  For  it  is  from 

thee,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  whose  mighty  working  fills  the  holy  temple 
of  Christ’s  Church  on  earth,  that  we  expect  all  good  things.  Perfect,  then, 
the  good  work  which  thou  hast  begun  in  us,  and  seal  us  unto  the  day  of 
Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — Reinhardt  (1753-1813). 

50 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  20 


d$0t)'£  Eato  at  lntzta$t 

f0t  tl)t  “And  to  whomsoever  much  is  given,  of  him  shall 

much  be  required.” — Luke  12.  48b. 

Hc&$qi\  for  tfje  2Dag;  Luke  6.  33-38. 

33  And  if  ye  do  good  to  them  that  do  good  to  you,  what  thank 
have  ye?  for  even  sinners  do  the  same.  34  And  if  ye  lend  to  them 
of  whom  ye  hope  to  receive,  what  thank  have  ye?  even  sinners 
lend  to  sinners,  to  receive  again  as  much.  35  But  love  your  ene¬ 
mies,  and  do  them  good,  and  lend,  never  despairing;  and  your 
reward  shall  be  great,  and  ye  shall  be  sons  of  the  Most  High:  for 
he  is  kind  toward  the  unthankful  and  evil.  36  Be  ye  merciful,  even 
as  your  Father  is  merciful.  37  And  judge  not,  and  ye  shall  not 
be  judged:  and  condemn  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be  condemned: 
release,  and  ye  shall  be  released:  38  give,  and  it  shall  be  given 
unto  you;  good  measure,  pressed  down,  shaken  together,  running 
over,  shall  they  give  into  your  bosom.  For  with  what  measure 
ye  mete  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again. 


“Do  right,  and  God’s  recompense  to  you  will  be  the  power  to  do  more  right.  Give, 
and  God’s  reward  to  you  will  be  the  spirit  of  giving  more:  blessed  spirit,  for  it  is  the 
Spirit  of  God  himself,  whose  Life  is  the  blessedness  of  giving.  Love,  and  God  will 
pay  you  with  the  capacity  of  more  love;  for  love  is  heaven,  love  is  God  within  you.” 
— Frederick  W.  Robertson. 


“Make  channels  for  the  streams  of  love, 

Where  they  may  broadly  run; 

For  God  has  overflowing  streams 
To  fill  them  every  one. 

“But  if  at  any  time  we  cease 
Such  channels  to  provide, 

The  very  founts  of  love  for  us 
Will  soon  be  parched  and  dried. 

“For  we  must  share,  if  we  would  keep 
That  blessing  from  above; 

Ceasing  to  give,  we  cease  to  have, 

Such  is  the  law  of  love.” 

— Richard  Chenevix  Tre7ich. 


Cot*  £DiI£;  “O  Lord,  our  Saviour,  who  hast  warned  us  that 
thou  wilt  require  much  of  those  to  whom  much  is  given,  grant  that  we 
whose  lot  is  cast  in  so  goodly  a  heritage  may  strive  together  the  more  abun¬ 
dantly  by  prayer,  by  almsgiving,  by  fasting,  and  by  every  other  appointed 
means,  to  extend  to  others  what  we  so  richly  enjoy ;  and  as  we  have  entered 
into  the  labors  of  other  men,  so  to  labor  that  in  their  turn  other  men  may 
enter  into  ours,  to  the  fulfillment  of  thy  holy  will,  and  our  own  everlasting 
salvation;  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Saint  Augustine  (354— 
430). 


51 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  21 


flD tit  County 

fot  tfjt  “Now,  therefore,  if  ye  will  obey  my  voice  indeed, 

and  keep  my  covenant,  then  ye  shall  be  mine  own  possession  from  among 
all  peoples;  for  all  the  earth  is  mine.” — Exodus  19.  5. 

for  tl)£  Isaiah  26.  1,  2,  12-15. 

i  In  that  day  shall  this  song  be  sung  in  the  land  of  Judah: 
We  have  a  strong  city;  salvation  will  he  appoint  for  walls  and 
bulwarks.  2  Open  ye  the  gates,  that  the  righteous  nation  which 
keepeth  faith  may  enter  in.  12  Jehovah,  thou  wilt  ordain  peace 
for  us;  for  thou  hast  also  wrought  all  our  works  for  us.  13  O 
Jehovah  our  God,  other  lords  besides  thee  have  had  dominion 
over  us;  but  by  thee  only  will  we  make  mention  of  thy  name. 
14  They  are  dead,  they  shall  not  live;  they  are  deceased,  they  shall 
not  rise:  therefore  hast  thou  visited  and  destroyed  them,  and  made 
all  remembrance  of  them  to  perish.  15  Thou  hast  increased  the 
nation,  O  Jehovah,  thou  hast  increased  the  nation;  thou  art  glori¬ 
fied;  thou  hast  enlarged  all  the  borders  of  the  land. 

“He  serves  his  country  best 
Who  lives  pure  life,  and  doeth  righteous  deed, 

And  walks  straight  paths,  however  others  stray; 

And  leaves  his  sons  as  uttermost  bequest 
A  stainless  record  which  all  men  may  read.” 

The  Mayflower  Covenant  for  the  establishment  of  a  theocracy  on  the  American 
continent,  written  and  signed  in  the  cabin  of  the  Mayflower  on  the  Pilgrims’  voyage 
to  America:  “In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  .  .  .  Having  undertaken  for  the  glory  of 
God  and  advancement  of  the  Christian  faith  and  honor  of  our  king  and  country,  a 
voyage  to  plant  the  first  colony  in  the  northern  parts  of  Virginia,  by  these  presents 
do  solemnly  and  mutually,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  one  another,  covenant  and  com¬ 
bine  ourselves  into  a  civic  body  politic  for  our  better  ordering  and  preservation  and 
furtherance  of  the  ends  aforesaid,  and  by  virtue  hereof  to  enact,  constitute,  and  frame 
such  just  and  equal  laws  and  ordinances,  acts,  constitutions  and  offices,  from  time  to 
time,  as  shall  be  thought  most  meet  and  convenient  for  the  general  good  of  the  colony, 
unto  which  we  promise  all  due  subjection  and  obedience.” 

(Ot  “Almighty  God,  who  in  the  foimer  times  dost  lead 

our  fathers  forth  into  a  wealthy  place;  give  thy  grace,  we  humbly  beseech 
thee,  to  us  their  children,  that  we  may  always  approve  ourselves  a  people 
mindful  of  thy  favor,  and  glad  to  do  thy  will.  Bless  our  land  with  honor¬ 
able  industry,  sound  learning  and  pure  manners.  Defend  our  liberties,  pre¬ 
serve  our  unity.  Save  us  from  violence,  disorder,  and  confusion,  from 
pride  and  arrogance  and  from  every  evil  way.  Fashion  into  one  happy  people 
the  multitudes  brought  hither  out  of  many  kindreds  and  tongues.  Endue 
with  the  spirit  of  wisdom  those  whom  we  intrust  in  thy  name  with  the 
authority  of  governance,  to  the  end  that  there  be  peace  at  home,  and  that 
we  keep  a  place  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  In  the  time  of  prosperity 
fill  our  hearts  with  thankfulness,  and  in  the  day  of  trouble  suffer  not  our 
trust  in  thee  to  fail;  all  of  which  we  ask  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — 
The  Wesley  Sunday  Service. 


52 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  22 


^Lf)t  jfottn&n#  ot  £Dut  Ration 

(Ot  tf)£  2Da^>  '‘Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation; 

But  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  people.” 

— Proverbs  14.  34. 

JLt$$ca  (or  t&tSDap:  Romans  13.  1—7. 

1  Let  every  soul  be  in  subjection  to  the  higher  powers:  for 
there  is  no  power  but  of  God;  and  the  powers  that  be  are  ordained 
of  God.  2  Therefore  he  that  resisteth  the  power,  withstandeth  the 
ordinance  of  God:  and  they  that  withstand  shall  receive  to  them¬ 
selves  judgment.  3  For  rulers  are  not  a  terror  to  the  good  work, 
but  to  the  evil.  And  wouldest  thou  have  no  fear  of  the  power? 
do  that  which  is  good,  and  thou  shalt  have  praise  from  the  same: 
4  for  he  is  a  minister  of  God  to  thee  for  good.  But  if  thou  do 
that  which  is  evil,  be  afraid;  for  he  beareth  not  the  sword  in  vain: 
for  he  is  a  minister  of  God,  an  avenger  for  wrath  to  him  that  doeth 
evil.  5  Wherefore  ye  must  needs  be  in  subjection,  not  only  be¬ 
cause  of  the  wrath,  but  also  for  conscience’  sake.  6  For  for  this  cause 
ye  pay  tribute  also;  for  they  are  ministers  of  God’s  service,  attend¬ 
ing  continually  upon  this  very  thing.  7  Render  to  all  their  dues: 
tribute  to  whom  tribute  is  due;  custom  to  whom  custom;  fear  to 
whom  fear;  honor  to  whom  honor. 


“Of  all  the  dispositions  and  habits  which  lead  to  political  prosperity,  religion  and 
morality  are  indispensable  supports.  In  vain  would  that  man  claim  the  tribute  of 
patriotism  who  should  labor  to  subvert  these  pillars  of  human  happiness.  The  mere 
politician,  equally  with  the  pious  man,  ought  to  respect  and  cherish  them.  ...  I  make 
it  my  earnest  prayer  that  God  would  most  graciously  be  pleased  to  dispose  us  all  to 
do  justice,  to  love  mercy,  and  to  demean  ourselves  with  that  charity,  humility,  and 
pacific  temper  of  mind  which  were  the  characteristics  of  the  Divine  Author  of  our 
blessed  religion,  without  an  imitation  of  whose  example  in  these  things,  we  cannot 
hope  to  be  a  happy  nation.” — George  Washington  (b.  February  22,  1732). 


y&Z&JttZ  (Ot  (Jt  “Father  of  life,  we  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  been 

with  the  founders  of  our  nation;  that  thou  hast  been  with  him  whose  birth 
this  day  we  celebrate.  Thou  wert  willing  to  speak  to  them,  and  they  were 
willing  to  hear  thee  and  answer  thee,  ‘Lo,  here  am  I ;  send  me.’  We  thank 
thee  that  the  memory  of  this  great  man  has  come  down  to  us — of  him  who 
was  first  in  war,  first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen; 
and  we  ask  thee  that  thou  wilt  teach  us  thy  law,  that  we  may  walk  in  thy 
ways;  that  this  may  be  that  happy  nation  whose  God  is  the  Lord.  In  all 
time  of  our  trial,  if  we  have  sought  thee,  we  have  found  thee;  in  all  time 
of  our  success  thou  hast  won  for  us  our  victories;  thou  hast  been  with  our 
counselors.  Father,  to-day,  to-morrow,  and  in  days  to  come,  in  our  memories 
and  in  our  hopes  be  with  us  still,  our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven.”  Amen. — 
Edward  Everett  Hale  (1822-1909). 


53 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  23 

Bringing  tjje  Cfnl&trn  to  3le£u0 


$£E<Sr£  (0t  t! )t  SDll^ ♦  “Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and 
forbid  them  not:  for  to  such  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  God.” — Luke  18.  16. 

1Lt&$0\\  fOttfjtSDap:  Matthew  19.  13-15. 

13  Then  were  there  brought  unto  him  little  children,  that  he 
should  lay  his  hands  on  them,  and  pray:  and  the  disciples  rebuked 
them.  14  But  Jesus  said,  Suffer  the  little  children,  and  forbid 
them  not,  to  come  unto  me:  for  to  such  belongeth  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  15  And  he  laid  his  hands  on  them,  and  departed  thence. 


“When  little  children  were  brought  into  the  presence  of  the  Son  of  God  his  dis¬ 
ciples  proposed  to  send  them  away;  but  he  said,  ‘Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto 
me.’  Unto  me;  he  did  not  send  them  first  for  lessons  in  morals  to  the  school  of  the 
Pharisees,  or  to  the  unbelieving  Sadducees,  nor  to  read  the  precepts  and  lessons  phy- 
lacteried  on  the  garments  of  the  Jewish  priesthood;  he  said  nothing  of  different  creeds 
nor  clashing  doctrines,  but  he  opened  at  once  to  the  youthful  mind  the  everlasting 
fountain  of  living  waters,  the  only  source  of  eternal  truths:  ‘Suffer  little  children  to 
come  unto  me.’  And  that  injunction  is  of  perpetual  obligation.  It  addresses  itself  to¬ 
day  with  the  same  earnestness  and  the  same  authority  which  attended  its  first  utterance 
to  the  Christian  world.  It  extends  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  it  will  reach  to  the  end 
of  time,  always  and  everywhere  sounding  in  the  ears  of  men,  with  an  emphasis  which  no 
repetition  can  weaken,  and  with  an  authority  which  nothing  can  supersede:  ‘Suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  me.’  ” — Daniel  Webster. 


fot  tf)C  ♦  Gracious  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the  words  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  “Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me  and  forbid  them 
not.”  Help  us  as  his  disciples  to  bring  the  children  to  Jesus ,  that  they  may 
be  led  to  know  him  whom  to  know  aright  is  life  eternal.  As  parents,  or 
teachers,  or  friends  of  children,  may  we  realize  that  above  all  that  we  can 
do  for  those  whom  we  love  is  that  which  he  as  their  ever-present  Friend 
and  Elder  Brother  can  do  for  them.  Give  us  grace  tactfully  and  earnestly 
to  exercise  this  ministry.  If  we  have  grown  hard  and  unspiritual,  bring 
back  to  us  the  tender  heart,  the  trustful  spirit,  the  simple  mind  of  the  child. 
Make  us  all  as  little  children,  that  to  us,  as  to  them,  may  belong  the  king¬ 
dom  of  heaven.  Teach  us  thy  will  and  lead  us  ever  in  thy  service.  We 
ask  it  in  Christ’s  name.  Amen. 


54 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  24 

CSrtettan  i}ontc 


I0t  tf)t  SDagt  “Aquila  and  Prisca  salute  you  much  in  the  Lord, 
with  the  church  that  is  in  their  house.” — 1  Corinthians  16.  19. 

for  tije  3Dag:  2  Timothy  I.  3—7. 

3  I  thank  God,  whom  I  serve  from  my  forefathers  in  a  pure 
conscience,  how  unceasing  is  my  remembrance  of  thee  in  my  sup¬ 
plications,  night  and  day  4  longing  to  see  thee,  remembering  thy 
tears,  that  I  may  be  filled  with  joy;  5  having  been  reminded  of  the 
unfeigned  faith  that  is  in  thee;  which  dwelt  first  in  thy  grand¬ 
mother  Lois,  and  thy  mother  Eunice;  and  I  am  persuaded  in  thee 
also.  6  For  which  cause  I  put  thee  in  remembrance  that  thou  stir 
up  the  gift  of  God,  which  is  in  thee  through  the  laying  on  of  my 
hands.  7  For  God  gave  us  not  a  spirit  of  fearfulness;  but  of  power 
and  love  and  discipline. 


“How  lovely  is  domestic  happiness, 

Where  mind  on  mind  and  heart  on  heart  repose 
Undoubting;  and  the  friends  whom  Providence 
Has  brought  together,  sharing  each  with  each 
Their  hopes,  their  joys,  their  cares,  appear  to  live 
One  common  life,  and  breathe  one  common  will! 

So  beautiful  is  this;  and  where  the  love 
Of  God  is  added  to  this  love  of  men, 

Somewhat  of  heaven  itself  to  earth  descends. 

For  what  is  heaven  but  one  immortal  home, 

Where  all  are  happy,  loving  and  beloved?” 

• — Henry  F.  Lyte. 


^Z&IPZZ  Cot  tfjC  SiDft£?  “Almighty  God,  we  thank  thee  for  the  comforts 
and  the  joys  of  home  and  for  human  love  and  friendship.  We  pray  that 
thy  Spirit  may  ever  dwell  in  this  household,  and  make  us  all  true  to  our 
relations  and  duties  one  to  another.  Enable  us  to  perform  our  tasks  well, 
to  meet  our  trials  bravely,  to  enjoy  our  pleasures  thankfully,  and  to  bear 
our  disappointments  patiently;  so  that  our  labors  and  our  examples  may  be 
profitable  to  others  and  we  may  all  be  true  servants  of  our  Lord  and  Master, 
Jesus  Christ.  Keep  us,  we  pray  thee,  from  anger  and  strife,  from  envy 
and  selfishness.  Make  us  loyal  in  our  affections  and  cheerful  in  our  fellow¬ 
ship.  Bless  all  whom  we  love  and  all  who  belong  to  us,  wherever  they  are 
to-day.  Increase  the  spirit  of  peace  and  brotherly  kindness  throughout  the 
world.  And  grant  us  grace  daily  to  do  something  for  the  coming  of  that 
blessed  day  when  all  the  households  of  earth  shall  belong  to  the  great  family 
of  God,  and  render  praises  and  glory  unto  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost.”  Amen. — Henry  van  Dyke  (b.  1852). 


55 


LOYALTY  FEBRUARY  25 

JFanttlp  m  §>etbtct 

PttjSte  fOt  tf)t  “As  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve  Jehovah.” 

— Joshua  24.  15. 

3£e££0nf0ttI)e£Da£:  Acts  16.  28-34- 

28  But  Paul  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  Do  thyself  no 
harm:  for  we  are  all  here.  29  And  he  called  for  lights  and  sprang 
in,  and,  trembling  for  fear,  fell  down  before  Paul  and  Silas,  30  and 
brought  them  out  and  said,  Sirs,  what  must  I  do  to  be  saved? 
31  And  they  said,  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  thou  shalt  be 
saved,  thou  and  thy  house.  32  And  they  spake  the  word  of  the 
Lord  unto  him,  with  all  that  were  in  his  house.  33  And  he  took 
them  the  same  hour  of  the  night,  and  washed  their  stripes;  and 
was  baptized,  he  and  all  his,  immediately.  34  And  he  brought 
them  up  into  his  house,  and  set  food  before  them,  and  rejoiced 
greatly,  with  all  his  house,  having  believed  in  God. 


“Each  of  us  is  bound  to  do  our  part  toward  making  the  little  circle  in  which  we 
live  better  and  happier;  each  of  us  is  bound  to  see  that  out  of  that  small  circle  the  widest 
good  may  flow;  that  out  of  a  single  household  may  flow  influences  which  shall  stimu¬ 
late  the  whole  commonwealth  and  the  whole  civilized  world.” — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 

Parents  who  appreciate  the  fact  that  the  home  is  the  first  and  greatest  school 
of  religion  will  endeavor  to  organize  the  whole  life  of  the  family  for  religious  purposes, 
for  the  purpose  of  growing  lives  into  spiritual  wholeness.  They  will  bend  every  effort 
to  secure  a  real  religious  atmosphere  and  soil  in  which  souls  can  really  grow.  They 
will  see  the  family  as  the  greatest  opportunity  life  affords  to  grow  other  lives  and  to 
bring  them  to  spiritual  fullness  by  providing  those  conditions  necessary  to  spiritual 
life  and  growth.  These  conditions  are  not  easily  created,  they  cannot  be  readily  de¬ 
fined,  nor  can  simple  directions  be  given  for  their  creation,  yet  to  secure  and  main¬ 
tain  them  is  the  first  and  greatest  responsibdity  of  Christian  parents. 


^ZdytZ  f 0t  “We  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  to  look  mercifully  upon 

this  family  and  to  pour  thy  blessing  upon  us  all.  Grant  to  us  severally 
such  measures  of  thy  grace  as  may  fit  us  for  our  duties.  Make  us  kind  and 
considerate  to  the  poor  and  needy,  charitable  and  forgiving  to  those  who  do 
us  wrong.  Make  us  to  be  a  household  fearing  thee  and  abounding  more  and 
more  in  love  to  thee  and  in  devotion  to  thy  service ;  that  this  family  may1 
be,  among  many  others,  the  humble  means  of  keeping  alive  a  spirit  of  piety 
in  this  nation  and  people,  that  thou  mayest  bless  them  and  visit  them  with 
thy  salvation.  And  grant  that  having  dwelt  together  here  in  thy  fear  and 
love,  we  may  together  be  received  into  thine  everlasting  habitation,  which 
thou  hast  prepared  for  thy  faithful  servants;  through  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Bishop  Hamilton  s  Manual. 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  26 


jBDebotion  to  C5ob'$i  CLOocli 

(Ot  tj )t  2DO^t  ‘‘They  received  the  word  with  all  readiness  of 
mind,  examining  the  scriptures  daily,  whether  these  things  were  so.” — 
Acts  17.  11b. 

Ht££on  tot  tljeSDag:  Psalm  1 19.  9—16. 

9  Wherewith  shall  a  young  man  cleanse  his  way? 

By  taking  heed  thereto  according  to  thy  word. 

10  With  my  whole  heart  have  I  sought  thee: 

Oh  let  me  not  wander  from  thy  commandments. 

11  Thy  word  have  I  laid  up  in  my  heart, 

That  I  might  not  sin  against  thee. 

12  Blessed  are  thou,  O  Jehovah: 

Teach  me  thy  statutes. 

13  With  my  lips  have  I  declared 
All  the  ordinances  of  thy  mouth. 

14  I  have  rejoiced  in  the  way  of  thy  testimonies, 

As  much  as  in  all  riches. 

15  I  will  meditate  on  thy  precepts, 

And  have  respect  unto  thy  ways. 

16  I  will  delight  myself  in  thy  statutes: 

I  will  not  forget  thy  word. 


“Read  the  Holy  Bible,  ‘the  Divine  Scriptures,’  as  the  early  Christian  writers  loved 
to  call  them.  Let  nothing  take  their  place.  Let  not  good  books,  be  they  what  they 
may,  oust  the  Book.” — H.  C.  G.  Moule. 

“Oh,  word  of  God  incarnate! 

Oh,  wisdom  from  on  high! 

Oh,  truth  unchanged,  unchanging! 

Oh,  light  of  our  dark  sky! 

We  praise  thee  for  the  radiance 
That  from  the  hallowed  page, 

A  lantern  to  our  footsteps, 

Shines  on  from  age  to  age.” 

— Charles  How. 

“I  have  been  acquainted  somewhat  with  men  and  books,  and  have  had  long  expe¬ 
rience  in  learning,  and  in  the  world:  there  is  no  book  like  the  Bible  for  excellent  learn¬ 
ing,  wisdom,  and  use;  and  it  is  want  of  understanding  in  them  that  think  or  speak 
otherwise.” — Matthew  Hale. 

(Ot  Almighty  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  we  render 

thee  most  hearty  thanks  for  the  spiritual  and  heavenly  nourishment  of  thy 
blessed  Word,  wherewith  our  souls  are  constantly  refreshed,  our  faith 
strengthened,  our  love  kindled,  our  hope  renewed.  We  humbly  beseech  thee 
to  give  us  grace,  not  only  to  be  hearers  of  thy  Word,  but  doers  of  the  same; 
not  only  to  love,  but  also  to  live  thy  gospel;  not  only  to  profess,  but  also  to 
practice  thy  blessed  Commandments;  that  we  may  show  forth  the  same  in 
our  conversation  and  living,  unto  the  honor  of  thy  holy  name,  the  comfort 
and  help  of  our  Christian  brethren,  the  health  and  welfare  of  our  souls.  We 
ask  it  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

57 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  27 

fe>eaxcf)  t!je  Scriptures* 


t^erj^e  tot  Hje  Dap:  Ye  search  the  scriptures,  because  ye  think  that  in 

them  ye  have  eternal  life;  and  these  are  they  which  bear  witness  of  me.” 
— John  5-  39- 

for  tf)e  SDag:  2  Timothy  3.  14-17. 

14  But  abide  thou  in  the  things  which  thou  hast  learned  and 
hast  been  assured  of,  knowing  of  whom  thou  hast  learned  them; 
15  and  that  from  a  babe  thou  hast  known  the  sacred  writings  which 
are  able  to  make  thee  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus.  16  Every  scripture  inspired  of  God  is  also  profit¬ 
able  for  teaching,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  which 
is  in  righteousness:  17  that  the  man  of  God  may  be  complete, 
furnished  completely  unto  every  good  work. 


“At  any  price,  give  me  the  book  of  God!  I  have  it:  here  is  knowledge  enough 
for  me.  Let  me  be  homo  unius  libri.  Here,  then,  I  am,  far  from  the  busy  ways  oi 
men.  I  sit  down  alone:  only  God  is  here.  In  his  presence  I  open,  I  read  this  book; 
for  this  end,  to  find  the  way  to  heaven.  Is  there  a  doubt  concerning  the  meaning 
of  what  I  read?  Does  any  thing  appear  dark  or  intricate?  I  lift  up  my  heart  to  the 
Father  of  lights.  Lord,  is  it  not  thy  word,  ‘If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of 
God’?  Thou  ‘givest  liberally  and  upbraidest  not.’  Thou  hast  said,  ‘If  any  be  will¬ 
ing  to  do  thy  will,  he  shall  know.’  I  am  willing  to  do:  let  me  know  thy  will.  I  then 
search  after,  and  consider  parallel  passages  of  Scripture,  ‘comparing  spiritual  things 
with  spiritual.’  I  meditate  thereon,  with  all  the  attention  and  earnestness  of  which 
my  mind  is  capable.  If  any  doubt  still  remains,  I  consult  those  who  are  experienced 
in  the  things  of  God;  and  then,  the  writings  whereby,  being  dead,  they  yet  speak.  And 
what  I  thus  learn,  that  I  teach.” — John  Wesley. 

“I  speak  as  a  man  of  the  world  to  men  of  the  world;  and  I  say  to  you,  search  the 
Scriptures!  The  Bible  is  the  book  of  all  others  to  be  read  at  all  ages,  and  in  all  con¬ 
ditions  of  human  life;  not  to  be  read  once  or  twice  through,  and  then  laid  aside,  but 
to  be  read  in  small  portions  of  two  or  three  chapters  every  day,  and  never  to  be  inter¬ 
mitted  unless  by  sound  overruling  necessity.” — John  Quincy  Adams. 


(Ot  D&p:  “Our  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the  Word  of  life 
which  thou  hast  given  us.  Help  us  that  we  may  obey  the  apostolic  injunc¬ 
tion  to  search  the  Scriptures.  Grant  that  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  enlightening 
us,  we  may  understand  the  truth  of  thy  Word  and,  like  Timothy,  may  we 
abide  in  these  things  which  we  have  learned.  Implant  in  us  all  that  faith 
which  unites  the  soul  to  Christ.  O  our  Father,  accept  in  Christ’s  name  our 
grateful  thanks  for  thy  kindness  and  care  manifested  in  so  many  ways  toward 
us.  We  have  not  deserved  these  gifts  or  thy  blessing,  yet  they  have  been 
great  and  manifold.  Accept,  O  our  Father,  our  grateful  thanks.  Keep  us, 
we  pray  thee,  in  the  hour  of  temptation.  Give  us  grace  diligently  and  faith¬ 
fully  to  perform  our  duties,  and  to  walk  before  thee  in  holy  fear,  and  with 
loving  hearts,  as  thy  dear  children.  In  Jesus’  name.”  Amen. 


58 


LOYALTY 


FEBRUARY  28 


<Himt  fat  d£lot£jFP 

tOt  tj)£  SDOpj  “Every  day  will  I  bless  thee; 

And  I  will  praise  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever.” 

— Psalm  145.  2. 

tot  tf)t  2Dag:  Psalm  95.  1-3,  6,  7. 

1  Oh  come,  let  us  sing  unto  Jehovah; 

Let  us  make  a  joyful  noise  to  the  rock  of  our  salvation. 

2  Let  us  come  before  his  presence  with  thanksgiving; 

Let  us  make  a  joyful  noise  unto  him  with  psalms. 

3  For  Jehovah  is  a  great  God, 

And  a  great  King  above  all  gods. 

6  Oh  come,  let  us  worship  and  bow  down; 

Let  us  kneel  before  Jehovah  our  Maker: 

7  For  he  is  our  God, 

And  we.  are  the  people  of  his  pasture,  and  the  sheep  of  his 
hand. 


“Teach  me  to  pray. 

Not  only  in  the  morning  gray, 

Or  when  the  moonbeam’s  silver  ray 
Falls  on  me,  but  at  high  noonday, 

When  pleasure  beckons  me  away, 

Teach  me  to  pray.” 

— Constance  Milman. 


“Let  us  put  by  some  hours  of  every  day 
For  holy  things!  whether  it  be  when  dawn 
Peers  through  the  windowpane,  or  when  the  noon 
Flames  like  a  burnished  topaz,  in  the  vault, 

Or  when  the  thrush  pours  in  the  ear  of  eve 
Its  plaintive  melody;  some  little  hour 
Wherein  to  hold  rapt  converse  with  the  soul; 

From  sordidness  and  self  a  sanctuary, 

Swept  by  the  winnowing  of  unseen  wings, 

And  touched  by  the  White  Light  Ineffable!” 

— Clinton  Scollard. 


tot  SDflJL  “Eternal  Ruler  of  our  lives,  to  thee,  O  God,  we 
look  up  for  daily  guidance,  daily  blessing,  daily  supplies  of  strength  and 
love;  strength  to  serve  in  duty,  love  to  make  all  duty  cheerful,  willing  and 
happy.  O  Lord,  give  us  more  of  thy  justice,  and  more  of  thy  pity  for  the 
distressed.  Grant  us  also  thy  peace,  thy  tranquillity.  Thou  sittest  above 
all  our  storms.  Thou  art  our  Divine  Shepherd,  and  we  are  the  sheep  of 
thy  pasture.  Thou  leadest  us  by  ways  which  we  know  not,  and  often  turnest 
pain  into  profit,  evil  into  good.  Thy  power  works  around  us  in  all  the 
world.  O  make  us  conscious  of  thy  inward  Presence,  and  full  of  that  holy 
gratitude  which  causes  content  and  peace.  Thou,  Lord,  art  the  Rewarder 
of  those  that  seek  thee,  Source  of  strength,  Creator  of  life  and  joy,  in  whom 
we  live  and  move  and  have  our  being.  In  thee  let  us  rejoice,  and  let  thy 
joy  establish  us;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Francis  W . 
Newman  (1805—1897). 


59 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  i 


l&eltgion  a£  JLotot 

mz&t  tot  tfje  2Dag:  “  Love  worketh  no  ill  to  his  neighbor:  love  there¬ 
fore  is  the  fulfillment  of  the  law.” — Romans  13.  10. 

3Lt$&0n  tot  tf)t2Dap:  Matthew  22.  34-40. 

34  But  the  Pharisees,  when  they  heard  that  he  had  put  the 
Sadducees  to  silence,  gathered  themselves  together.  35  And  one 
of  them,  a  lawyer,  asked  him  a  question,  trying  him:  36  Teacher, 
which  is  the  great  commandment  in  the  law?  37  And  he  said 
unto  him,  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart, 
and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind.  38  This  is  the  great 
and  first  commandment.  39  And  a  second  like  unto  it  is  this,  Thou 
shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.  40  On  these  two  command¬ 
ments  the  whole  law  hangeth,  and  the  prophets. 


“Religion  we  conceive  to  be  no  other  than  love;  the  love  of  God  and  of  all  man¬ 
kind.  This  love  we  believe  to  be  the  medicine  of  life,  the  never-failing  remedy  for 
all  the  evils  of  a  disordered  world.  This  religion  we  long  to  see  established  in  the  earth.” 
— John  Wesley. 

“Bishop  Brooks  taught  me  no  special  creed  or  dogma,  but  he  impressed  upon  my 
mind  two  great  ideas — the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  brotherhood  of  man,  and  made 
me  feel  that  these  truths  underlie  all  creeds  and  forms  of  worship.  God  is  love,  God 
is  our  Father,  we  are  his  children;  therefore  the  darkest  clouds  will  break,  and  though 
right  be  worsted,  wrong  shall  not  triumph.  He  said:  ‘There  is  one  universal  religion, 
Helen — the  religion  of  love.  Love  your  heavenly  Father  with  your  whole  heart  and 
soul,  love  every  child  of  God  as  much  as  ever  you  can,  and  remember  that  the  possi¬ 
bilities  of  good  are  greater  than  the  possibilities  of  evil;  and  you  have  the  key  to 
heaven.’  ” — Helen  Keller. 

fot  tt)Z  “O  thou  gracious  and  merciful  God,  thou  Lover  of 

mankind,  we  thank  thee  with  our  whole  hearts  for  the  vast,  unspeakable 
love  wherewith  thou,  O  God  and  Father  of  souls,  hast  loved  us.  Oh,  how 
can  we  thank  thee  sufficiently  for  thy  great  goodness?  Thy  love  is  eternal 
-  and  never  ceases :  it  is  infinitely  higher  than  the  heavens,  broader  than  the 
earth,  deeper  than  the  abyss,  wider  than  from  sunrise  to  sunset.  As  high  as 
the  heavens  above  the  earth,  so  great  is  thy  mercy  toward  them  that  fear 
thee;  as  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west,  so  far  hast  thou  put  our  trans¬ 
gressions  from  thee;  for  thou  pitiest  us,  even  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children. 
Lord,  give  us  hearts  never  to  forget  thy  love;  but  to  dwell  therein,  whatever 
we  do,  whether  we  walk  or  sit,  sleep  or  wake,  live  or  die,  or  rise  again  to 
the  life  that  is  to  come.  For  thy  love  is  eternal  life  and  everlasting  rest;  for 
this  is  life  eternal  to  know  thee  and  thy  infinite  goodness.  Oh,  let  its  flame 
never  be  quenched  in  our  hearts;  let  it  grow  and  brighten  till  our  whole 
souls  are  glowing  and  shining  with  its  light  and  warmth.  For  happy  are 
we  if  we  continue  in  the  love  wherewith  thou  hast  loved  us;  holy  are  we 
when  we  love  thee  steadfastly.  Therefore,  O  Thou  whose  name  and  essence 
is  love,  enkindle  our  hearts,  enlighten  our  understanding,  sanctify  our  wills, 
cleanse  and  fill  all  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts,  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.” 
Amen. — J.  Arndt  (1555-1621). 


60 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  2 


Contentment  CxllitS  One's*  Hot 

®ez$t  (or  tfje  £Dag:  “  Be  .  content  with  such  things  as  ye  have.” 

— Hebrews  13.  5. 

Heg*s»on(ort5e2Da^:  PkiUppians  4.  11-13,  18-20. 

11  Not  that  I  speak  in  respect  of  want:  for  I  have  learned,  in 
whatsoever  state  I  am,  therein  to  be  content.  12  I  know  how  to 
be  abased,  and  I  know  also  how  to  abound :  in  everything  and  in 
all  things  have  I  learned  the  secret  both  to  be  filled  and  to  be 
hungry,  both  to  abound  and  to  be  in  want.  13  I  can  do  all  things 
in  him  that  strengtheneth  me.  ...  18  But  I  have  all  things, 
and  abound:  I  am  filled,  having  received  from  Epaphroditus  the 
things  that  came  from  you,  an  odor  of  a  sweet  smell,  a  sacrifice 
acceptable,  well  pleasing  to  God.  19  And  my  God  shall  supply 
every  need  of  yours  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  in  Christ 
Jesus.  20  Now  unto  our  God  and  Father  be  the  glory  for  ever  and 
ever.  Amen. 


“Soldier  in  the  long  warfare  for  man’s  rescue  from  Darkness  and  Evil,  choose  not 
your  place  on  the  battlefield,  but  joyfully  accept  that  assigned  you,  asking  not  whether 
there  be  a  higher  or  lower,  but  only  whether  it  is  here  that  you  can  most  surely  do 
your  proper  work,  and  meet  your  full  share  of  the  responsibility  and  the  danger.  .  .  . 
So  long  as  ignorance  and  evil  shall  exist,  so  long  will  there  be  work  for  the  devoted, 
and  so  long  will  there  be  room  in  the  ranks  of  those  who,  defying  obloquy,  misappre¬ 
hension,  bigotry,  and  interested  craft,  struggle  and  dare  for  the  redemption  of  the 
world.” — Horace  Greeley. 

(0E  tj)£  “Almighty  God,  by  whose  will  we  were  created, 

and  by  whose  providence  we  have  been  sustained,  by  whose  mercy  we  have 
been  called  to  the  knowledge  of  our  Redeemer,  and  by  whose  grace  what¬ 
ever  we  have  thought  or  done,  which  hath  been  acceptable  to  thee,  hath 
been  inspired  and  directed,  vouchsafe  unto  us,  this  day,  thy  blessing.  Give 
us  this  day  our  daily  bread.  Feed  us  with  food  convenient  for  us.  If  it  be 
thy  pleasure  to  cause  us  to  abound  with  the  good  things  of  this  life,  give  us 
a  compassionate  spirit,  that  we  may  be  ready  to  relieve  the  wants  of  others; 
but  let  neither  riches  nor  poverty  estrange  our  hearts  from  thee,  nor  cause 
us  to  become  negligent  of  those  treasures  in  heaven  which  can  never  be 
taken  from  us.  And,  into  whatever  circumstances  of  life  we  may  be  brought, 
teach  us  to  be  cheerful  and  content.  In  our  affliction,  let  us  remember  how 
often  we  have  been  succored ;  and,  in  our  prosperity,  may  we  acknowledge 
from  whose  hand  our  blessings  are  received.”  Amen. — Henry  Thornton. 


6l 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  3 

W&Z  SDibine  Correction 


t^er^t  for  tjjt  “For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth, 

And  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth.” 

— Hebrews  12.  6. 

^c^^onfort^cSDa^:  John  15.  1-6. 

1  I  am  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the  husbandman.  2 
Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  he  taketh  it  away:  and 
every  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  cleanseth  it,  that  it  may  bear 
more  fruit.  3  Already  ye  are  clean  because  of  the  word  which  I 
have  spoken  unto  you.  4  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the 
branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it  abide  in  the  vine;  so 
neither  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me.  5  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the 
branches:  he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  beareth 
much  fruit:  for  apart  from  me  ye  can  do  nothing.  6  If  a  man  abide 
not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  withered;  and  they 
gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire,  and  they  are  burned. 


“Then  welcome  each  rebuff 
That  turns  earth’s  smoothness  rough, 

Each  sting  that  bids  nor  sit  nor  stand,  but  go. 

Be  our  joys  three  parts  pain! 

Strive,  and  hold  cheap  the  strain; 

Learn,  nor  account  the  pang;  dare,  never  grudge  the  throe!” 

— Robert  Browning . 

“There  are  trials  in  life  which  may  be  compared  to  the  burning  of  a  fiery  furnace. 
Bereavement  is  such  a  trial;  disappointment  is  such  a  trial;  above  all,  temptation  is 
such  a  trial.  From  these  no  child  of  God  may  be  exempt.  He  must  consent  to  be 
cast  into  the  flame.  But  if  he  is  strong,  if  he  is  true,  he  will  not  be  alone  in  the  hour 
of  his  spiritual  suffering;  he  shall  be  conscious  of  a  more  than  human  presence,  con¬ 
soling,  inspiring  him;  the  breath  of  fire  shall  not  pass  upon  him  to  scathe  him;  for  the 
form  of  the  fourth  is  like  the  Son  of  God.” — J.  E.  C.  Welldon. 

“No  trouble  is  too  small  wherein  to  see  the  will  of  God  for  thee.  Great  troubles 
come  but  seldom.  By  daily  practice  in  slight  crosses  of  our  own  will  do  we  learn  the 
lesson  our  Lord  taught,  ‘Not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt.’  ” — Edward  B.  Pusey. 

prajft  tor  tfir  2Dag:  “  Blessed  Lord,  we  cry  to  thee  for  the  pardon  of 
our  sins.  Enable  us  to  feel  their  greatness.  Let  sin  appear  exceeding  sin¬ 
ful  in  our  sight.  O  deliver  us  both  from  its  guilt  and  from  its  indwelling- 
power.  Free  us  from  its  dominion  and  reign  thou,  O  our  King  and  our 
God,  reign  thou  alone  in  our  hearts.  Lord,  we  would  be  thy  true  servants, 
thy  faithful  disciples.  O  make  us  to  be  so.  Correct  in  us  all  that  is  wrong. 
Take  away  every  branch  that  beareth  not  fruit,  and  may  we  live  to  thee. 
Pardon  all  our  unbelief  and  hardness  of  heart.  Forgive  us  for  sometimes 
doubting  thy  love  and  thy  goodness.  O  God,  our  Father,  increase  our  faith. 
Give  us  boldness  to  confess  Christ.  Let  us  not  be  ashamed  to  own  him  as 
our  Master.  May  we  set  our  faces  heavenward  and  declare  plainly  that 
we  seek  a  better  country.  Loosen  those  roots  which  bind  us  down  too 
closely  to  this  world  and  give  us  grace  to  press  forward  with  increased  ear¬ 
nestness.  For  our  Saviour’s  sake.”  Amen. — Ashton  Oxenden  (1808-1892). 

62 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  4 

C5oti  j®u c  Meatier 


tot  tge  2Dag:  ‘  ‘Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Jehovah; 

And  lead  me  in  a  plain  path.’' 

— Psalm  27.  II. 


tot  t&eSDap:  P saint  31.  1—6. 


1  In  thee,  O  Jehovah,  do  I  take  refuge; 

Let  me  never  be  put  to  shame : 

Deliver  me  in  thy  righteousness. 

2  Bow  down  thine  ear  unto  me;  deliver  me  speedily: 

Be  thou  to  me  a  strong  rock, 

A  house  of  defense  to  save  me. 

3  For  thou  art  my  rock  and  my  fortress; 

Therefore  for  thy  name’s  sake  lead  me  and  guide  me. 

4  Pluck  me  out  of  the  net  that  they  have  laid  privily  for  me; 
For  thou  art  my  stronghold. 

5  Into  thy  hand  I  commend  my  spirit: 

Thou  hast  redeemed  me,  O  Jehovah,  thou  God  of  truth. 

6  I  hate  them  that  regard  lying  vanities; 

But  I  trust  in  Jehovah. 


“Unless  thou  show  to  us  thine  own  true  way, 

No  man  can  find  it;  Father,  thou  must  lead. 

So  thou  then  breathe  those  thoughts  into  my  mind 
By  which  such  virtue  may  in  me  be  bred 

That  in  thy  holy  footsteps  I  may  tread.”  — Michael  Angelo. 

“Regard  not  much  who  is  for  thee  or  who  against  thee:  but  give  all  thy  thought 
and  care  to  this,  that  God  be  with  thee  in  everything  thou  doest.  For  whom  God 
will  help,  no  malice  of  man  shall  be  able  to  hurt.” — Thomas  a  Kempis. 

tot  tf)£  “Lord,  thou  hast  searched  us  out  and  known  us. 

Thou  understandest  all  our  ways.  And  thou  seest  and  knowest,  O  God, 
that  we  have  a  hearty  desire  so  to  live  as  thou  hast  commanded  thy  children, 
and  according  to  the  pattern  that  Jesus  has  left  us.  But,  alas!  how  often 
we  find  that  first  one  temptation,  and  then  another,  draws  us  aside  from 
the  right  path.  Sometimes  we  are  seduced  by  our  own  hearts  with  their 
unchecked  desires;  sometimes  enticed  by  the  world  with  its  evil  examples; 
but  in  either  case  alike  we  displease  thee,  and  wound  our  own  consciences. 
Therefore  we  cry  unto  thee  to-day,  O  lead  and  guide  us  by  the  good  Spirit  in 
a  plain  path.  Behold,  we  yield  ourselves  wholly  unto  thee;  as  thou  didst 
lead  thy  people  through  the  sea  and  desert  into  the  promised  land,  so  guide 
us  through  the  dangers  of  life,  and  the  wilderness  and  the  temptations  of 
the  world,  with  a  good  conscience  and  void  of  offense,  till  we  reach  the  life 
eternal.  Suffer  us  never  henceforth  willingly  to  sin  against  thee,  but  to 
become  in  truth,  and  be  known  of  all  men  to  be  true  and  pious  Christians. 
Give  us  a  holy  watchfulness  in  all  we  do  and  say,  and  write  thy  love  and 
fear  in  our  hearts  that  we  may  in  all  we  do  govern  ourselves  by  thy  Word, 
and  follow  the  example  of  our  blessed  Lord,  Jesus  Christ.’’  Amen. — 
Stark  (1740). 


63 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  5 

SDeMcatton  of  tjje  CHliU  to  C5oti 


l^EES>E  fOE  t!)E  “Not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done.” — Luke  22.  42. 

2U££0nf0Etf)Ci&Dap:  Colossians  1.  9-14,  21-23. 

9  For  this,  cause  we  also,  since  the  day  we  heard  it,  do  not 
cease  to  pray  and  make  request  for  you,  that  ye  may  be  filled  with 
the  knowledge  of  his  will  in  all  spiritual  wisdom  and  understand¬ 
ing,  10  to  walk  worthily  of  the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing,  bearing 
fruit  in  every  good  work,  and  increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  God; 
11  strengthened  with  all  power,  according  to  the  might  of  his 
glory,  unto  all  patience  and  longsuffering  with  joy;  12  giving 
thanks  unto  the  Father,  who  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the 
inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light;  13  who  delivered  us  out  of  the 
power  of  darkness,  and  translated  us  into  the  kingdom  of  the  Son 
of  his  love;  14  in  whom  we  have  our  redemption,  the  forgiveness 
of  our  sins.  ...  21  And  you,  being  in  time  past  alienated  and 

enemies  in  your  mind  in  your  evil  works,  22  yet  now  hath  he 
reconciled  in  the  body  of  his  flesh  through  death,  to  present  you 
holy  and  without  blemish  and  unreprovable  before  him:  23  if  so  be 
that  ye  continue  in  the  faith,  grounded  and  steadfast,  and  not  moved 
away  from  the  hope  of  the  gospel  which  ye  heard,  which  was 
preached  in  all  creation  under  heaven;  whereof  I  Paul  was  made 
a  minister. 


“On  January  12,  1723,  I  made  a  dedication  of  myself  to  God,  and  wrote  it  down; 
giving  up  myself  and  all  I  had  to  God;  to  be  in  the  future  in  no  respect  my  own.  I 
solemnly  vowed  to  take  God  for  my  whole  portion  and  felicity,  and  his  law  for  the 
constant  rule  of  my  obedience,  engaging  to  fight  with  all  my  might  against  the  world, 
the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  to  the  end  of  my  life.  I  frequently  used  to  retire  on  the  banks 
of  the  Hudson  River,  at  some  distance  from  the  city  [New  York],  for  contemplation  on 
divine  things  and  secret  converse  with  God,  and  had  many  sweet  hours  there.” — 
Jonathan  Edwards. 


Pta^EE  fOE  tf}Z  “My  adorable  God,  I  humbly  beseech  thee  to  ac¬ 

cept  the  sacrifice  1  here,  in  all  humility,  desire  to  make  thee,  of  the  remainder 
of  my  life;  to  be  entirely  employed,  with  the  utmost  vigor  both  of  my  soul 
and  body,  in  thy  service  and  adoration.  Pardon  all  the  sins  and  offenses 
of  our  lives  past,  and  be  pleased  to  bestow  upon  us  a  steadfast  faith,  an 
ardent  love,  an  humble  and  perfect  obedience,  and  wills  capable  of  no  other 
inclination  than  absolute  guidance  of  thy  divine  will,  ...  as  all  our 
thoughts  and  actions  are  continually  before  thee,  so  we  humbly  beseech  thee, 
that  they  may  never  be  unworthy  of  thy  divine  presence,  for  Jesus  Christ’s 
sake.”  Amen. — Charles  How. 


64 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  6 


SDotng  (Boob 

Pettfe  tot  tfjt  2Dap:  “  God  .  .  .  will  render  to  every  man  accord¬ 

ing  to  his  works:  to  them  that  by  patience  in  well-doing  seek  for  glory 
and  honor  and  incorruption,  eternal  life.” — Romans  2.  6,  7. 

Htggon  fot  tfje  Acts  io.  34  1.  C.-39. 

34  Of  a  truth  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons: 
35  but  in  every  nation  he  that  feareth  him,  and  worketh  righteous¬ 
ness,  is  acceptable  to  him.  36  The  word  which  he  sent  unto  the 
children  of  Israel,  preaching  good  tidings  of  peace  by  Jesus  Christ 
(he  is  Lord  of  all) — -37  that  saying  ye  yourselves  know,  which  was 
published  throughout  all  Judasa,  beginning  from  Galilee,  after  the 
baptism  which  John  preached;  38  even  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  how 
God  anointed  him  with  the  Holy  Spirit  and  with  power:  who  went 
about  doing  good,  and  healing  all  that  were  oppressed  of  the  devil ; 
for  God  was  with  him.  39  And  we  are  witnesses  of  all  things  which 
he  did  both  in  the  country  of  the  Jews  and  in  Jerusalem. 


“  ‘Up  and  be  doing’  is  the  word  that  comes  from  God  to  each  of  us.  Do  some¬ 
thing  worth  living  lor,  worth  dying  for;  something  to  show  that  you  have  a  mind  and 
heart  and  a  soul  within  you.  ...  Is  there  no  want,  no  suffering,  no  sorrow  that  you 
can  relieve?  Is  there  no  act  of  tardy  justice,  no  deed  of  cheerful  kindness,  no  long- 
forgotten  duty  that  you  can  perform?  Is  there  no  reconciliation  of  some  ancient  quarrel, 
no  payment  of  some  outstanding  debt,  no  courtesy,  or  love,  or  honor  to  those  to  whom 
it  has  long  been  due?  If  there  be  any  such,  I  beseech  you,  in  God’s  name,  go  and  do 
it.” — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 


“We  ought  to  do  good  to  others  as  simply  and  as  naturally  as  a  horse  runs,  or  a 
bee  makes  honey,  or  a  vine  bears  grapes  season  after  season  without  thinking  of  the 
grapes  which  it  has  borne.” — Marcus  Aurelius. 


y&KfllfrZK  tf)£  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  went  about  doing  good, 

by  thy  most  merciful  example  lead  us  also,  we  pray  thee,  to  show  mercy  and 
to  do  good.  Fill  us  with  charity  that  we  may,  as  thou  callest  us,  minister 
to  thy  poor,  and  pray  for  all  men.  Though  we  are  weary,  keep  us  from 
weariness  in  well-doing;  to  give,  and  to  believe  thy  word  that  it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.  So  in  the  day  of  thy  good  pleasure  may  we 
rest  from  our  labors,  and  our  works  follow  us.”  Amen. — Christina  G. 
Rossetti  (1830-1894). 


65 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  7 

SDUtp  of  i^onesitp 


for  t\)t  Dap:  “  The  law  of  truth  was  in  his  mouth,  and  unright¬ 
eousness  was  not  found  in  his  lips;  he  walked  with  me  in  peace  and 
uprightness,  and  turned  many  away  from  iniquity.” — Malachi  2.  6. 

JLt&&on  foe  tfje  2Dap:  Titus  3-  8,  9,  14. 

8  Faithful  is  the  saying,  and  concerning  these  things  I  desire 
that  thou  affirm  confidently,  to  the  end  that  they  who  have  believed 
God  may  be  careful  to  maintain  good  works.  These  things  are 
good  and  profitable  unto  men:  9  but  shun  foolish  questionings, 
and  genealogies,  and  strifes,  and  fightings  about  the  law;  for  they 
are  unprofitable  and  vain.  14  And  let  our  people  also  learn  to  main¬ 
tain  good  works  for  necessary  uses,  that  they  be  not  unfruitful. 


“I  hope  I  shall  always  possess  firmness  and  virtue  enough  to  maintain  what  I 
consider  the  most  enviable  of  all  titles,  the  character  of  an  ‘Honest  Man.’  ” — George 
Washington. 

“It  seems  to  me  that  the  shortest  way  to  check  the  darker  forms  of  deceit  is  to  set 
watch  more  scrupulous  against  those  which  have  mingled,  unregarded  and  unchastised, 
with  the  current  of  our  life.  Do  not  let  us  lie  at  all.  Do  not  think  of  one  falsity  as 
harmless  and  another  as  slight  and  another  as  unintended.  Cast  them  all  aside;  they 
may  be  light  and  accidental,  but  they  are  an  ugly  soot  from  the  smoke  of  the  pit  for 
all  that;  and  it  is  better  that  our  heart  should  be  swept  clean  of  them,  without  over¬ 
care  as  to  which  is  largest  or  blackest.  Speaking  truth  is  like  writing  fair,  and  comes 
only  by  practice;  it  is  less  a  matter  of  will  than  of  habit,  and  I  doubt  if  any  occasion 
can  be  trivial  which  permits  the  practice  and  formation  of  such  a  habit.” — John  Ruskin. 

Pt tX^ZZ  fOt  t\)Z  SDd£«  “We  bless  and  praise  and  magnify  thee,  O  God  of 
our  fathers,  who  hast  led  us  out  of  the  shadows  of  night  once  more  into  the 
light  of  day.  Unto  thy  loving-kindness  we  make  our  entreaty;  be  merciful 
to  our  misdeeds;  accept  our  prayers  in  the  fullness  of  thy  compassion,  for 
thou  art  our  refuge  from  one  generation  to  another,  O  merciful  and  almighty 
God.  Suffer  the  true  Sun  of  thy  righteousness  to  shine  in  our  hearts,  en¬ 
lighten  our  reason,  and  purify  our  senses;  that  so  we  may  walk  honestly  as 
in  the  day,  in  the  way  of  thy  Commandments,  and  reach  at  last  the  life 
eternal,  where  we  shall  rejoice  in  thy  inaccessible  life.  For  thou  art  the 
fountain  of  life  and  in  thy  light  shall  we  see  light.”  Amen. — Greek  Church. 


66 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  8 


Hoy  alty  to  tty 

tot  tty  SDap:  “  To  this  end  have  I  been  born,  and  to  this  end  am 
l  come  into  the  world,  that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the  truth.” — John 
1 8.  37. 

Jteggton  fot  tt>e  SDag:  Psalm  119.29-33. 

29  Remove  from  me  the  way  of  falsehood ; 

And  grant  me  thy  law  graciously. 

30  I  have  chosen  the  way  of  faithfulness: 

Thine  ordinances  have  I  set  before  me. 

31  I  cleave  unto  thy  testimonies: 

O  Jehovah,  put  me  not  to  shame. 

32  I  will  run  the  way  of  thy  commandments, 

When  thou  shalt  enlarge  my  heart. 

33  Teach  me,  O  Jehovah,  the  way  of  thy  statutes; 

And  I  shall  keep  it  unto  the  end. 


“So  he  died  for  his  faith.  That  is  fine — 

More  than  most  of  us  do. 

But,  say,  can  you  add  to  that  line 
That  he  lived  for  it  too? 

In  his  death  he  bore  witness  at  last 
As  a  martyr  to  truth. 

Did  his  life  do  the  same  in  the  past 
From  the  days  of  his  youth? 

It  is  easy  to  die!  Men  have  died 
For  a  wish  or  a  whim — 

From  bravado  or  passion  or  pride, 

Was  it  harder  for  him? 

But  to  live — every  day  to  live  out 
All  the  truth  that  he  drempt, 

While  his  friends  met  his  conduct  with  doubt 
And  the  world  with  contempt. 

Was  it  thus  that  he  plodded  ahead, 

Never  turning  aside? 

Then  we’ll  talk  of  the  life  that  he  lived. 

Never  mind  how  he  died.”  — Crosby. 

y&ZOytt  fOt  tty  jDilJN  “Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the  vast  progress  which 
mankind  has  made  in  the  ages  that  are  behind  us.  We  bless  thee  that  truth 
is  stronger  than  error,  and  justice  breaks  down  every  throne  of  unrighteous¬ 
ness,  and  the  gentleness  of  love  is  far  stronger  than  all  the  energy  of  wrath. 
We  thank  thee  for  the  philosophers  who  have  taught  us  truth  and  for  the 
great  poets  who  have  touched  men’s  hearts  with  the  fire  of  heaven  and  stirred 
to  noble  deeps  the  human  soul.  We  thank  thee  for  the  goodly  fellowship  of 
prophets  in  all  lands;  for  the  glorious  company  of  apostles,  speaking  in  every 
tongue,  and  the  noble  army  of  martyrs,  whose  blood,  reddening  the  soil  of 
the  whole  world,  has  made  it  fertile  for  noble  human  purposes.  We  thank 
thee  for  the  humble  toiling  millions  of  men  who  earnestly  looked  for  the 
light  and  finding  walked  therein.  We  pray  thee  that  we,  too,  may  walk 
faithful  to  the  light.  So  may  thy  kingdom  come  and  thy  will  be  done  on 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.”  Amen  .—Theodore  Parker  ( 1810-1860) . 

67 


LOYALTY  MARCH  9 

dSta tt  of  pettfebetante 

tDt  tf)t  jSDajH  “He  that  endureth  to  the  end,  the  same  shall  be 
saved.” — Matthew  10.  22. 

2lt£»00n  tot  tj)E  2Dag:  Revelation  3.  1-6. 

1  And  to  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Sardis  write: 

These  things  saith  he  that  hath  the  seven  Spirits  of  God,  and 
the  seven  stars :  I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  hast  a  name  that 
thou  livest,  and  thou  art  dead.  2  Be  thou  watchful,  and  establish 
the  things  that  remain,  which  were  ready  to  die :  for  I  have  found 
no  works  of  thine  perfected  before  my  God.  3  Remember  there¬ 
fore  how  thou  hast  received  and  didst  hear;  and  keep  it,  and 
repent.  If  therefore  thou  shalt  not  watch,  I  will  come  as  a  thief, 
and  thou  shalt  not  know  what  hour  I  will  come  upon  thee.  4  But 
thou  hast  a  few  names  in  Sardis  that  did  not  defile  their  garments: 
and  they  shall  walk  with  me  in  white;  for  they  are  worthy.  5  He 
that  overcometh  shall  thus  be  arrayed  in  white  garments;  and  I 
will  in  no  wise  blot  his  name  out  of  the  book  of  life,  and  I  will 
confess  his  name  before  my  Father,  and  before  his  angels.  6  He 
that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  to  the  churches. 


“Hast  thou  attempted  greatness?  Then  go  on; 

Back-turning  slackens  resolution.” 

— Herrick. 


“Say  not  the  struggle  naught  availeth, 

The  labor  and  the  wounds  are  vain. 

The  enemy  faints  not,  nor  faileth, 

And  as  things  have  been,  they  remain. 

For  while  the  tired  waves,  vainly  breaking, 

'  Seem  here  no  painful  inch  to  gain, 

Far  back,  through  creeks  and  inlets  making, 

Comes  silent,  flooding  in,  the  main.” 

— A.  H.  Clough. 

“In  the  gallery  of  the  Louvre  a  cabinet  of  pottery  is  shown.  The  pieces  are  not 
particularly  beautiful,  but  they  are  of  thrilling  historic  interest.  This  is  the  set  which 
Bernard  de  Palissy  broke  up  the  furniture  of  his  house  to  fire,  in  his  extreme  poverty 
and  after  a  long  series  of  harrowing  disappointments.  In  this  last  experiment  he 
succeeded,  rediscovering  the  glaze  which  has  made  the  exquisite  wares  of  Sevres  possi¬ 
ble.” — Davis  W.  Clark. 


y&Z&ytt  tot  “Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  lovest  those  that  love 

thee,  and  refreshest  them  with  the  gift  of  thy  mercy;  confirm  us,  we  pray 
thee,  in  every  good  word  and  work,  that  our  mouth  may  speak  of  wisdom, 
and  our  heart  muse  of  understanding,  so  that,  setting  our  whole  trust  on  thee, 
we  may  with  all  thy  saints  obtain  the  reward  of  eternal  life.”  Amen. — 
Mozarahic  Psalter. 


68 


LOYALTY 


MARCH  io 


C5cact  of  patience 

Wti&t  foe  tf\t  2Dap:  ‘  ‘And  let  patience  have  its  perfect  work,  that  ye 
may  be  perfect  and  entire,  lacking  in  nothing.” — James  i.  4. 

tot  tjjtiSDap:  James  5.  7-1 1. 

7  Be  patient  therefore,  brethren,  until  the  coming  of  the  Lord. 
Behold,  the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the  precious  fruit  of  the  earth, 
being  patient  over  it,  until  it  receive  the  early  and  latter  rain.  8  Be 
ye  also  patient;  establish  your  hearts:  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord 
is  at  hand.  9  Murmur  not,  brethren,  one  against  another,  that  ye 
be  not  judged:  behold,  the  judge  standeth  before  the  doors.  10 
Take,  brethren,  for  an  example  of  suffering  and  of  patience,  the 
prophets  who  spake  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  11  Behold,  we  call 
them  blessed  that  endured:  ye  have  heard  of  the  patience  of  Job, 
and  have  seen  the  end  of  the  Lord,  how  that  the  Lord  is  full  of 
pity,  and  merciful. 


“Let  no  man  think  that  sudden  in  a  minute 
All  is  accomplished  and  the  work  is  done; — 

Though  with  thine  earliest  dawn  thou  shouldst  begin  it, 

Scarce  were  it  ended  in  thy  setting  sun.” 

— Frederic  IV.  H.  Myers. 


“How  many  are  there  who  by  reason  of  poverty,  obscurity,  infirmity  of  mind 
or  body,  can  never  hope  to  do  much  by  action,  and  who  often  sigh  at  the  contempla¬ 
tion  of  their  want  of  power  to  effect  anything!  But  it  is  given  to  them,  as  to  all,  to 
suffer;  let  them  only  suffer  well,  and  they  will  give  a  testimony  for  God  which  all  who 
know  them  will  deeply  feel  and  profoundly  respect.  It  is  not  necessary  for  all  men 
to  be  great  in  action.  The  greatest  and  sublimest  power  is  often  simple  patience; 
and  for  just  that  reason  we  need  sometimes  to  see  its  greatness  alone,  that  we  may 
embrace  the  solitary,  single  idea  of  such  greatness,  and  bring  it  into  our  hearts  uncon¬ 
fused  with  all  other  kinds  of  power.  Let  this  be  remembered;  and  let  it  be  your  joy, 
in  every  trial  and  grief  and  pain  and  wrong  you  suffer,  that  to  suffer  well  is  to  be  a 
true  advocate  and  apostle  and  pillar  of  the  faith.” — Horace  Bushnell. 

fOt  t “We  beseech  of  thee,  O  Lord  our  God,  that  thou 
wilt  grant  to  every  one  of  us  the  special  mercies  which  he  needs — strength 
where  weakness  prevails,  and  patience  where  courage  has  failed.  Grant,  we 
pray  thee,  that  those  who  need  long-suffering  may  find  themselves  strongly  up¬ 
borne  and  sustained.  Grant  if  any  are  heart-weary  and  sick  from  hope 
deferred  that  they  may  find  rest  in  thee.  Confirm  goodness  in  those  that 
are  seeking  it.  Restore,  we  pray  thee,  those  that  have  wandered  from  the 
path  of  rectitude.  Give  every  one  honesty.  May  all  transgressors  of  the 
law  return  to  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  their  souls  with  confession  of  sin, 
and  earnest  and  sincere  repentance.”  Amen. — Henry  Ward  Beecher  (1813- 

1887). 


69 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  ii 


tot  C$0b 


tot  tf)t  j&Dapt  “I  spread  forth  my  hands  unto  thee: 

My  soul  thirsteth  after  thee,  as  a  weary  land.” 

— Psalm  143.  6. 


HtSteOnfOttfiejaDap:  Psalm  42.  1-5. 


1  As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water  brooks, 

So  panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  O  God. 

2  My  soul  thirsteth  for  God,  for  the  living  God: 

When  shall  I  come  and  appear  before  God? 

3  My  tears  have  been  my  food  day  and  night, 

While  they  continually  say  unto  me,  Where  is  thy  God? 

4  These  things  I  remember,  and  pour  out  my  soul  within  me, 
How  I  went  with  the  throng,  and  led  them  to  the  house  of 

God, 

With  the  voice  of  joy  and  praise,  a  multitude  keeping  holy- 
day. 

5  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul? 

And  why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me? 

Hope  thou  in  God;  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him 
For  the  help  of  his  countenance. 


“An  old  mystic  says  somewhere,  ‘God  is  an  unutterable  sigh  in  the  innermost 
depths  of  the  soul/  With  still  greater  justice  we  may  well  reverse  the  proposition 
and  say,  The  soul  is  a  never-ending  sigh  after  God;  because  she  is  from  him,  she  is  also 
for  him,  and  tends  to  him.  In  her  deepest  recesses  there  lives  or  slumbers,  however 
hidden,  an  inextinguishable  longing  after  God.  She  knows  herself,  by  an  inward  senti¬ 
ment,  not  merely  to  be  dependent  on  him,  but  at  the  same  time  drawn  toward  him, 
and  destined  for  a  union  with  him.” — Theodore  Christlieb. 


“Be  sure  that  if  we  will,  in  God  revealed  in  Christ  the  soul  may  slake  the  thirst 
of  the  ages;  and  the  dreariest,  darkest,  and  most  restless  existence  may  find  illumination 
and  peace.  With  God,  the  human  soul  not  merely  interprets  the  secret  of  the  uni¬ 
verse;  it  comprehends,  and  is  at  peace  with  itself:  for  God  is  the  satisfaction  of  its  thirst.” 
— Canon  Liddon. 


fOt  tf)Z  “O  Lord,  thy  Word  is  before  us.  Give  us  a  meek 

and  reverent  and  teachable  mind  while  we  read  and  study  it.  Open  to  us 
its  sacred  truths,  and  enable  us  to  receive  it,  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but 
as  the  Word  of  God,  which  liveth  and  abideth  forever.  Be  thou,  O  Blessed 
Spirit,  our  teacher.  Enlighten  our  minds  and  prepare  our  hearts.  Shine, 
O  Lord,  upon  thine  own  and  sacred  page,  and  make  it  clear  to  us.  What 
we  see  not  show  us,  and  where  we  are  wrong  correct  us.  Bring  home  some 
portion  to  our  soul,  and  thus  make  us  wise  unto  salvation;  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Saviour.”  Amen. — Ashton  Oxenden  (1808-1892). 


70 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  12 

C5otj  a£  1 l)e  Supreme  Being 

IPettfe  tot  t5e  SDag:  ‘  ‘Jehovah  hath  established  his  throne  in  the  heavens; 

And  his  kingdom  ruleth  over  all.” 

Psalm  103.  19. 

Heston  foe  tfjeSDag:  Job  12.  13-16,  21-23. 

13  With  God  is  wisdom  and  might; 

He  hath  counsel  and  understanding. 

14  Behold,  he  breaketh  down,  and  it  cannot  be  built  again; 
He  shutteth  up  a  man,  and  there  can  be  no  opening. 

15  Behold,  he  withholdeth  the  waters,  and  they  dry  up; 
Again,  he  sendeth  them  out,  and  they  overturn  the  earth. 

16  With  him  is  strength  and  wisdom; 

The  deceived  and  the  deceiver  are  his. 

21  He  poureth  contempt  upon  princes, 

And  looseth  the  belt  of  the  strong. 

22  He  uncovereth  deep  things  out  of  darkness, 

.  And  bringeth  out  to  light  the  shadow  of  death. 

23  He  increaseth  the  nations,  and  he  destroyeth  them. 

“Lord  of  all  being,  throned  afar, 

Thy  glory  flames  from  sun  and  star; 

Center  and  soul  of  every  sphere, 

Yet  to  each  loving  heart  how  near! 

“Lord  of  all  life,  below,  above 
Whose  light  is  truth,  whose  warmth  is  love, 

Before  thy  ever-blazing  throne 
We  ask  no  luster  of  our  own. 

“Grant  us  thy  truth  to  make  us  free, 

And  kindling  hearts  that  burn  for  thee, 

Till  all  thy  loving  altars  claim 
One  holy  light,  one  heavenly  flame.” 

— Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 

Prayer  tot  tfie  2Dag:  “  To  thee,  O  Lord,  we  pray,  who  art  the  supreme 
Truth,  for  all  truth  that  is,  is  from  thee.  Thee  we  implore,  O  Lord,  who 
art  the  highest  Wisdom.  Through  thee  are  wise,  all  that  are  so.  Thou 
art  the  supreme  Joy,  and  from  thee  all  have  become  happy  that  are  so.  Thou 
art  the  highest  Good,  and  from  thee  all  beauty  springs.  Thou  art  the 
intellectual  Light,  and  from  thee  man  derives  his  understanding.  To 
thee,  O  God,  we  call  and  speak.  Hear  us,  O  Lord,  for  thou  art  our  God 
and  our  Lord,  our  Father  and  our  Creator,  our  Ruler  and  our  Hope,  our 
Wealth  and  our  Honor,  our  Home,  our  Country,  our  Salvation,  and  our 
Life;  hear  us,  O  Lord.  Few  of  thy  servants  comprehend  thee — but  at  least 
we  love  thee — yea,  love  thee  above  all  other  things.  We  seek  thee,  we  follow 
thee,  we  are  ready  to  serve  thee;  under  thy  power  we  desire  to  abide,  for 
thou  art  the  Sovereign  of  all.  We  pray  thee  to  command  us  as  thou  wilt; 
through  Jesus  Christ  thy  Son,  our  Lord.”  Amen. — King  Alfred  (849-901). 

71 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  13 

dfliottfjjip  ot  d50ti 

PtE£iE  tOE  tl)E  “And  after  he  had  sent  the  multitudes  away,  he 

went  up  into  the  mountain  apart  to  pray:  and  when  even  was  come,  he 
was  there  alone.” — Matthew  14.  23. 

JLt$&OXl  for  tljtSDag:  I  Chronicles  16.  23-29. 

23  Sing  unto  Jehovah,  all  the  earth; 

Show  forth  his  salvation  from  day  to  day. 

24  Declare  his  glory  among  the  nations, 

His  marvelous  works  among  all  the  peoples. 

25  For  great  is  Jehovah,  and  greatly  to  be  praised: 

He  also  is  to  be  feared  above  all  gods. 

26  For  all  the  gods  of  the  peoples  are  idols: 

But  Jehovah  made  the  heavens. 

27  Honor  and  majesty  are  before  him: 

Strength  and  gladness  are  in  his  place. 

28  Ascribe  unto  Jehovah,  ye  kindreds  of  the  peoples, 

Ascribe  unto  Jehovah  glory  and  strength; 

29  Ascribe  unto  Jehovah  the  glory  due  unto  his  name: 

Bring  an  offering,  and  come  before  him. 


“Certainly  there  never  was  a  busier  life  than  that  of  Jesus — his  whole  great  mis¬ 
sion  bounded  by  three  hurried  years.  Yet  in  the  morning  he  says  to  his  friends:  ‘Let 
us  come  apart  and  rest  awhile’;  and  again  when  the  evening  is  come  he  is  in  the  moun¬ 
tain  apart,  alone.  That  is  the  place  of  worship  in  a  world  of  work.  It  is  not  a  refuge 
from  duty,  cr  a  shirking  of  it;  it  is  the  renewal  of  power  to  meet  one’s  duty  and  do  it. 
The  work  of  life  is  not  to  be  well  done  with  a  hot,  feverish,  overwhelmed,  and  burdened 
mind;  it  is  to  be  well  done  with  a  mind  calmed  and  fortified  by  moments  of  withdrawal; 
and  it  is  to  be  best  done  by  one  who  from  time  to  time  pulls  himself  up  in  his  eager 
life  and  permits  God  to  speak  to  his  soul.” — Francis  G.  Peabody. 

% 

f0E  t f}£  “O  thou  infinite  Spirit  who  needcst  no  words  for 

man  to  hold  his  converse  with  thee,  we  would  enter  into  thy  presence,  we 
would  reverence  thy  power,  we  would  worship  thy  wisdom,  we  would  adore 
thy  justice,  we  would  be  gladdened  by  thy  love  and  blessed  by  our  com¬ 
munion  with  thee.  We  know  that  thou  needest  no  sacrifice  at  our  hands, 
nor  any  offering  at  our  lips;  yet  we  live  in  thy  world,  we  taste  thy  bounty, 
we  breathe  thine  air,  and  thy  power  sustains  us,  thy  justice  guides,  thy  good¬ 
ness  preserves,  and  thy  love  blesses  us  forever  and  ever.  O  Lord,  we  cannot 
fail  to  praise  thee,  though  we  cannot  praise  thee  as  we  would.  We  bow 
our  faces  down  before  thee  with  humble  hearts,  and  in  thy  presence  would 
warm  our  spirits  for  awhile,  that  the  better  we  may  be  prepared  for  the 
duties  of  life,  to  endure  its  trials,  to  bear  its  crosses,  and  to  triumph  in  its 
lasting  joys.  .  .  .  Father,  give  us  strength  for  our  daily  duty;  patience 

for  our  constant  or  unaccustomed  cross,  and  in  every  time  of  trial  give  us 
the  hope  that  sustains,  the  faith  that  wins  the  victory  and  obtains  satisfac¬ 
tion  and  fullness  of  joy.”  Amen. — Theodore  Parker  (1810-1860). 

72 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  14 

“mjy  dfllili  75t  2D  one” 

$et£e  (Ot  tf)Z  2Da^t  “I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God.” — Psalm 

40.  8. 

JLZ$&0tl  fot  tf)t  2Dag;  Psalm  143.  6,  10.  I  John  5.  13-15. 

6  I  spread  forth  my  hands  unto  thee: 

My  soul  thirsteth  after  thee,  as  a  weary  land. 

10  Teach  me  to  do  thy  will; 

For  thou  art  my  God: 

Thy  Spirit  is  good; 

Lead  me  in  the  land  of  uprightness. 

5.  13  These  things  have  I  written  unto  you,  that  ye  may  know 
that  ye  have  eternal  life,  even  unto  you  that  believe  on  the  name* 
of  the  Son  of  God.  14  And  this  is  the  boldness  which  we  have 
toward  him,  that,  if  we  ask  anything  according  to  his  will,  he 
heareth  us:  15  and  if  we  know  that  he  heareth  us  whatsoever  we 
ask,  we  know  that  we  have  the  petitions  which  we  have  asked  of 
him. 


“The  will  of  God  will  be  done;  but,  oh,  the  unspeakable  loss  for  us  if  we  have 
missed  our  opportunity  of  doing  it!” — Brooke  Foss  Westcott. 

“Send  me  that  which  Thou  knowest  is  blessing,  though  it  may  not  seem  blessing 
to  me;  and  deny  me  that  which  thou  knowest  is  not  blessing,  however  ready  I,  in  my 
ignorance,  may  be  to  think  it  so.  That  is  the  spirit  of  prayer.  When  we  are  praying 
for  blessings,  we  ought  never  to  pray  for  them  absolutely;  we  ought  always  to  pray 
for  them  if  they  be  truly  good  for  us;  if  not,  God  in  answering  our  prayer  would  not 
be  blessing  us  indeed.” — A.  K.  H.  Boyd. 

“I  do  not  dare  to  pray 
For  winds  to  waft  me  on  my  way, 

But  leave  it  to  a  higher  Will 
To  stay  or  speed  me,  trusting  still 
That  all  is  well,  and  sure  that  he  .  .  . 

Will  land  me — every  peril  past — 

Within  the  sheltered  haven  at  last. 

“Then  whatsoever  wind  doth  blow, 

My  heart  is  glad  to  have  it  so; 

And  blow  it  east,  or  blow  it  west, 

The  wind  that  blows,  that  wind  is  best.” 

— Caroline  A.  Mason. 


fOt  tfje  2Dft#t  “O  Lord,  thou  knowest  what  is  best  for  us,  let  this 
or  that  be  done,  as  thou  shalt  please.  Give  what  thou  wilt,  and  how  much 
thou  wilt,  and  when  thou  wilt.  Deal  with  us  as  thou  thinkest  good,  and 
as  best  pleaseth  thee.  Set  us  where  thou  wilt,  and  deal  with  us  in  all  things 
just  as  thou  wilt.  Behold,  we  are  thy  servants,  prepared  for  all  things;  for 
we  desire  not  to  live  unto  ourselves,  but  unto  thee,  and  O  that  we  could 
do  it  worthily  and  perfectly!”  Amen. — Thomas  a  Kempis  (1379-1471). 

73 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  15 

falianntj)  ot 

fOt  tl)£  “Love  one  another  from  the  heart  fervently.” — 

1  Peter  1.  22. 

1Lt$&on  for  tty  &ap:  i  Peter  4.  7-1 1. 

7  But  the  end  of  all  things  is  at  hand:  be  ye  therefore  of  sound 
mind,  and  be  sober  unto  prayer:  8  above  all  things  being  fervent 
in  your  love  among  yourselves;  for  love  covereth  a  multitude  of 
sins:  9  using  hospitality  one  to  another  without  murmuring:  10 
according  as  each  hath  received  a  gift,  ministering  it  among  your¬ 
selves,  as  good  stewards  of  the  manifold  grace  of  God;  n  if  any 
man  speaketh,  speaking  as  it  were  oracles  of  God;  if  any  man  minis- 
tereth,  ministering  as  of  the  strength  which  God  supplieth :  that  in 
all  things  God  may  be  glorified  through  Jesus  Christ,  whose  is 
the  glory  and  the  dominion  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 

“We  have  not  loved  thee  as  we  ought, 

Nor  cared  that  we  are  loved  by  thee; 

Thy  presence  we  have  coldly  sought, 

And  feebly  longed  thy  face  to  see. 

Lord,  give  a  pure  and  loving  heart 
To  feel  and  own  the  love  thou  art. 

“We  have  not  served  thee  as  we  ought; 

Alas!  the  duties  left  undone, 

The  work  with  little  fervor  wrought, 

The  battl  es  lost,  or  scarcely  won! 

,  Lord,  give  the  zeal,  and  give  the  might, 

-yC  For  thee  to  toil,  for  thee  to  fight.” — Thomas  B.  Pollock. 

fOt  “O  almighty  and  merciful  God,  fill  our  hearts  with 

love  and  gratitude  for  the  renewal  of  thy  mercies  this  day  and  enable  us 
to  walk  before  thee  with  a  deeper  sense  of  trust  in  thy  fatherly  goodness  and 
with  firmer  resolutions  of  obedience  to  thy  will.  In  this  world  in  which 
there  is  so  much  of  illusion,  guard  from  error  our  understandings;  fill  our 
minds  with  all  useful  truth  and  above  all  with  that  which  maketh  wise  unto 
salvation ;  and  instill  into  them  all  pure  and  benevolent  affections.  Regard 
with  compassion  our  erring  judgments;  impute  not  our  doubts  to  indifference 
nor  our  slowness  of  belief  to  hardness  of  heart.  Send  unto  us  thy  Holy 
Spirit  to  warm  our  cold  hearts  and  to  aid  and  quicken  us  in  our  devotions, 
and  accept  for  our  blessed  Saviour’s  sake  ever  the  sigh  of  penitence  and 
our  unexpressed  petitions.  Give  us  grace  this  day  to  overcome  every  tempta¬ 
tion.  In  all  our  dealings  may  we  be  just  and  upright,  charitable  and  for¬ 
giving.  In  all  our  family  relations  may  we  show  forth  thy  Spirit,  O  blessed 
Jesus,  and  learn  of  thee  to  be  meek  and  humble  of  heart.  May  we  bear 
one  another’s  burdens  in  that  spirit  of  Christian  love.  So  enable  us  by  thy 
grace  that  we  may  lie  down  this  night  with  conscience  void  of  offense.  For 
our  Saviour’s  sake  who  hath  left  us  an  example,  that  we  should  follow  in 
his  steps.”  Amen. 


74 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  16 


Etgtemng  to  Gob 


tot  tfje  Day; 


“I  will  hear  what  God  Jehovah  will  speak; 

For  he  will  speak  peace  unto  his  people,  and  to 
his  saints.” 

— Psalm  85.  8. 


2lt£S>0n  tot  tfyc  Day;  Psalm  62.  1-7. 


1  My  soul  waiteth  in  silence  for  God  only: 

From  him  cometh  my  salvation. 

2  He  only  is  my  rock  and  my  salvation: 

He  is  my  high  tower;  I  shall  not  be  greatly  moved. 

3  How  long  will  ye  set  upon  a  man, 

That  ye  may  slay  him,  all  of  you, 

Like  a  leaning  wall,  like  a  tottering  fence? 

4  They  only  consult  to  thrust  him  down  from  his  dignity; 
They  delight  in  lies; 

They  bless  with  their  mouth,  but  they  curse  inwardly. 

5  My  soul,  wait  thou  in  silence  for  God  only; 

For  my  expectation  is  from  him. 

6  He  only  is  my  rock  and  my  salvation: 

He  is  my  high  tower;  I  shall  not  be  moved. 

7  With  God  is  my  salvation  and  my  glory: 

The  rock  of  my  strength,  and  my  refuge,  is  in  God. 


“Just  as  in  prayer  it  is  not  we  who  momentarily  catch  his  attention,  but  he  ours, 
so  when  we  fail  to  hear  his  voice,  it  is  not  because  he  is  not  speaking  so  much  as  that 
we  are  not  listening.  We  must  recognize  that  all  things  are  in  God  and  that  God  is 
in  all  things,  and  we  must  learn  to  be  very  attentive,  in  order  to  hear  God  speaking 
in  his  ordinary  tone  without  any  special  accent.  A  man  must  not  stop  listening  any 
more  than  praying  when  he  rises  from  his  knees.  No  one  questions  the  need  of  times 
of  formal  address  to  God,  but  few  admit  in  any  practical  way  the  need  of  quiet  waiting 
upon  God,  gazing  into  his  face,  feeling  for  his  hand,  listening  for  his  voice.  ‘I  will 
hearken  what  the  Lord  God  will  say  concerning  me.’  God  has  special  confidences  for 
each  soul.  Indeed,  it  would  seem  as  though  the  deepest  truths  came  only  in  moments 
of  profound  devotional  silence  and  contemplation.” 

■ — Charles  H.  Brent. 


PtaytE  (0t  tfyC  Day;  “Grant  unto  us,  we  pray  thee,  the  lost  hunger  and 
thirst  after  righteousness — the  longing  for  God.  Grant  unto  us  that  draw¬ 
ing  power  by  which  everything  in  us  shall  call  for  thee.  Become  neces¬ 
sary  unto  us.  With  the  morning  and  evening  light,  at  noon  and  at  mid¬ 
night,  may  we  feel  the  need  of  thy  companionship.  .  .  .  Though  thou 

dost  not  speak  as  man  speaks,  yet  thou  canst  call  out  to  us;  and  the  soul  shall 
know  thy  presence,  and  shall  understand  by  its  own  self  what  thou  meanest. 
Grant  unto  us  this  witness  of  the  Spirit,  this  communion  of  the  soul  with 
thee — and  not  only  once  or  twice:  may  we  abide  in  the  light.”  Amen. — Henry 
Ward  Beecher  (1813—1887). 


75 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  17 

?lt)C 

tPngt  for  tfie  £Dap;  “  But  blessed  are  your  eyes,  for  they  see;  and  your 
ears,  for  they  hear  ."—Matthew  13.  16. 

He££0!t  (0tt{)e$Dap:  Isaiah  42.  18-22. 

18  Hear,  ye  deaf;  and  look,  ye  blind,  that  ye  may  see.  19  Who 
is  blind,  but  my  servant?  or  deaf,  as  my  messenger  that  I  send? 
who  is  blind  as  he  that  is  at  peace  with  me,  and  blind  as  Jehovah’s 
servant.  20  Thou  seest  many  things,  but  thou  observest  not;  his 
ears  are  open,  but  he  heareth  not.  21  It  pleased  Jehovah,  for  his 
righteousness’  sake,  to  magnify  the  law  and  make  it  honorable.  22 
But  this  is  a  people  robbed  and  plundered;  they  are  all  of  them 
snared  in  holes,  and  they  are  hid  in  prison-houses:  they  are  for  a 
prey,  and  none  delivereth;  for  a  spoil,  and  none  saith,  Restore. 


“So  it  is.  One  man  walks  through  the  world  with  his  eyes  open,  another  with 
his  eyes  shut.  I  have  known  sailors  who  have  been  in  all  quarters  of  the  w^orld,  and 
could  tell  you  of  nothing  but  the  signs  of  tippling-houses  and  the  price  of  the  liquor  that 
was  sold  there.  While  many  a  silly,  thoughtless  youth  is  whirled  through  Europe 
without  gaining  a  single  idea,  the  observing  eye  and  inquiring  mind  find  matter  for 
improvement  and  delight  in  every  ramble.” — Charles  Kingsley. 


PtagtE  (0E  tf)E  SDftgt  “O  Lord,  thou  greatest  and  most  true  Light,  from 
whence  this  light  of  the  day  and  sun  doth  spring;  O  Light,  which  dost  lighten 
every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world ;  O  Light,  which  knowest  no  night  nor 
evening,  but  art  always  a  midday  most  clear  and  fair,  without  whom  all  is 
most  dark  darkness,  by  whom  all  things  are  most  splendent;  O  thou  Wisdom 
of  the  Eternal  Father  of  mercies,  lighten  our  minds,  that  we  may  only  see 
those  things  that  please  thee,  and  may  be  blinded  to  all  other  things.  Grant 
that  we  may  walk  in  thy  ways  this  day,  and  that  nothing  else  may  be  light 
unto  us.  Lighten  our  eyes,  O  Lord,  that  we  sleep  not  in  death,  lest  our 
enemy  say,  ‘I  have  prevailed  against  him’;  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  thy 
Son  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Christian  Prayers ,  1566. 


76 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  18 

'CTJie  ^eabenlp  Uteiott 

DecsJe  for  tf)c  SDap:  “  Where  there  is  no  vision,  the  people  perish.” — 
Proverbs  29.  18  (King  James  version). 

Eesteon  for  tjjeSDap:  Acts  26.  14-20. 

14  And  when  we  were  all  fallen  to  the  earth,  I  heard  a  voice 
saying  unto  me  in  the  Hebrew  language,  Saul,  Saul,  why  perse- 
cutest  thou  me?  it  is  hard  for  thee  to  kick  against  the  goad.  15  And 
I  said,  who  art  thou,  Lord?  And  the  Lord  said,  I  am  Jesus  whom 
thou  persecutest.  16  But  arise,  and  stand  upon  thy  feet:  for  to 
this  end  have  I  appeared  unto  thee,  to  appoint  thee  a  minister  and 
a  witness  both  of  the  things  wherein  thou  hast  seen  me,  and  of 
the  things  wherein  I  will  appear  unto  thee;  17  delivering  thee 
from  the  people,  and  from  the  Gentiles,  unto  whom  I  send  thee, 
18  to  open  their  eyes,  that  they  may  turn  from  darkness  to  light 
and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may  receive 
remission  of  sins  and  an  inheritance  among  them  that  are  sancti¬ 
fied  by  faith  in  me.  19  Wherefore,  O  king  Agrippa,  I  was  not 
disobedient  unto  the  heavenly  vision:  20  but  declared  both  to 
them  of  Damascus  first,  and  at  Jerusalem,  and  throughout  all  the 
country  of  Judaea,  and  also  to  the  Gentiles,  that  they  should  repent 
and  turn  to  God,  doing  works  worthy  of  repentance. 

“Whatever  appearances  may  be  to-day,  whatever  may  be  the  religious  outlook, 
however  serious  may  seem  the  deadly  apathy  which  has  stolen  over  the  spiritual  natures 
of  our  fellow  men,  this  I  believe — that  if  we  can  only  multiply  the  number  of  those 
who  have  the  vision  of  God,  however  humble  may  be  their  power,  however  restricted 
their  sphere,  the  future  of  the  church,  the  future  of  the  nation  and  the  future  of  the 
cause  of  Christ  throughout  the  world  is  perfectly  safe.” — R.  J.  Campbell. 

“Silently  now  I  wait  for  thee, 

Ready,  my  God,  thy  will  to  see. 

Open  my  eyes,  illumine  me, 

Spirit  divine.”  — Anonymous. 

fOE  tf)E  “Almighty  God,  let  it  please  thee  so  to  illuminate 

our  souls  with  the  grace  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  that  we  may  be  guided  in  the' 
paths  of  righteousness,  and  brought  to  know  thee  and  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  to  know  is  life  eternal.  Deliver  us,  we  pray  thee,  from  ignorance  and 
delusion,  from  prejudice  and  passion,  from  pride  and  self-confidence — and 
from  every  evil  influence  that  opposes  the  entrance  of  thy  truth  into  our 
minds.  Give  to  us  humble,  teachable,  and  obedient  hearts,  that  we  may 
meekly  receive  whatsoever  thou  hast  taught  us.  Make  us  ready  to  believe 
where  we  cannot  see,  and  willing  to  trust  where  we  cannot  comprehend. 
Endue  us  with  a  right  judgment  in  all  things,  that  we  may  know  the  things 
that  are  true  and  approve  the  things  that  are  excellent.  Send  forth  the  light 
of  thy  gospel  throughout  the  world  to  enlighten  and  reclaim  the  nations  that 
are  in  darkness.  Hear  and  answer  us,  O  Lord,  according  to  the  fullness  of 
thy  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus.”  Amen. 


77 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  19 

Hi )t  Mrtcfwngmg;  Gob 

fOt  tf)t  “Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday  and  to-day,  yea 

and  forever.” — Hebrews  13.  8. 

for  tlje  SDag:  Psalm  90.  1-4. 

1  Lord,  thou  hast  been  our  dwelling  place 
In  all  generations. 

2  Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth, 

Or  ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world, 

Even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  thou  art  God. 

3  Thou  turnest  man  to  destruction; 

And  sayest,  Return,  ye  children  of  men. 

4  For  a  thousand  years  in  thy  sight 

Are  but  as  yesterday  when  it  is  past, 

And  as  a  watch  in  the  night. 


“All  things  are  ever  God’s;  the  shows  of  things 
Are  of  man’s  fantasy  and  warped  with  sin — 

God,  and  the  things  of  God,  immutable.” 

— Allingham. 


“O  God,  we  are  but  leaves  upon  thy  stream, 
Clouds  on  thy  sky.  We  do  but  move  across 
The  silent  breast  of  thine  infinitude 
Which  bears  us  all.  We  pour  out  day  by  day 
Our  long,  brief  moan  of  mutability 
To  thine  immutable,  and  cease. 


“Yet  still 

Our  change  yearns  after  thine  unchangedness; 

Our  mortal  craves  thine  immortality; 

Our  manifold  and  multiform  and  weak 
Imperfectness  requires  the  perfect  One.” 

— Dinah  Muloch  Craik. 


Pt fOt  tf)£  UDagi  “O  God,  who  remainest  the  same  though  all  else 
fades,  who  changest  not  with  our  changing  moods,  who  leavest  us  not  when 
we  leave  thee;  we  thank  thee  that  when  we  lose  faith  in  thee,  soon  or  late, 
we  come  to  faith  in  something  that  leads  us  back  again  with  firmer  trust 
and  more  sincerity.  Even  if  we  wander  into  the  far  country  we  take  our¬ 
selves  with  us;  ourselves,  who  are  set  toward  thee  as  rivers  to  the  sea.  If 
we  turn  to  foolishness,  our  hearts  grow  faint  and  weary,  our  path  is  set 
with  thorns,  the  night  overtakes  us,  and  we  find  that  we  have  strayed  from 
light  and  life.  Grant  to  us  clearer  vision  of  the  light  which  knows  no  shade 
of  turning,  that  we  stray  not  in  folly  away;  incline  our  hearts  to  love  the 
truth  alone,  so  that  we  miss  thee  not  at  last;  give  us  to  realize  of  what  spirit 
we  are,  so  that  we  cleave  ever  to  thee  who  alone  can  give  us  rest  and  joy.” 
Amen. — W.  E.  Orchard  (b.  1877). 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  20 

CSjt  C5t£atnr££  at  C5oti 

$?£££>£  t0t  tf)t  SDagt  “Wherefore  thou  art  great,  O  Jehovah  God:  for 
there  is  none  like  thee,  neither  is  there  any  God  besides  thee,  according  to 
all  we  have  heard  with  our  ears” — 2  Samuel  7.  22. 

Heston  tar:  tfjeSDap:  1  Chronicles  16.  23—27. 

23  Sing  unto  Jehovah,  all  the  earth; 

Show  forth  his  salvation  from  day  to  day. 

24  Declare  his  glory  among  the  nations, 

His  marvelous  works  among  all  the  peoples. 

25  For  great  is  Jehovah,  and  greatly  to  be  praised: 

He  also  is  to  be  feared  above  all  gods. 

26  For  all  the  gods  of  the  peoples  are  idols: 

But  Jehovah  made  the  heavens. 

27  Honor  and  majesty  are  before  him: 

Strength  and  gladness  are  in  his  place. 


“  ‘His  greatness  is  unsearchable.’  When  we  meditate  most  and  search  most 
studiously  we  shall  still  find  ourselves  surrounded  with  unknowable  wonders  which 
will  baffle  all  our  attempts.  Not  all  the  minds  of  all  centuries  shall  suffice  to  search 
out  the  unsearchable  riches  of  God;  he  is  past  finding  out,  and,  therefore,  his  deserved 
praise  is  above  and  beyond  all  that  we  can  render  to  him.” — C.  H.  Spurgeon. 

“As  the  marsh  hen  builds  securely  on  the  watery  sod, 

Behold  I  will  build  me  a  nest  on  the  Greatness  of  God: 

I  will  fly  in  the  Greatness  of  God  as  the  marsh  hen  flies, 

In  the  freedom  that  fills  all  the  space  ’twixt  the  marsh  and  the  skies: 

By  so  many  roots  as  the  marsh  grass  sends  in  the  sod 
I  will  heartily  lay  me  ahold  on  the  greatness  of  God: 

Oh,  like  to  the  Greatness  of  God  is  the  greatness  within, 

The  range  of  the  marshes,  the  liberal  marshes  of  Glynn.” 

— Sidney  Lanier. 


tOl  tf}Z  “O  God  of  our  life,  whom  we  dimly  apprehend 

and  never  can  comprehend,  to  whom  nevertheless  we  justly  ascribe  all  good¬ 
ness  as  well  as  all  greatness;  as  a  father  teaches  his  children,  so  teach  us, 
Lord,  truer  thoughts  of  thee.  Teach  us  to  aspire,  so  far  as  man  may  law¬ 
fully  aspire,  to  a  knowledge  of  thee.  Thou  art  not  only  a  God  to  be  honored 
in  times  of  rest  and  and  ease,  thou  art  also  the  Refuge  of  the  distressed, 
the  Comforter  of  the  afflicted,  the  Healer  of  the  contrite,  and  the  Support  of 
the  unstable.  As  we  sympathize  with  those  who  are  sore  smitten  by  calamity, 
wounded  by  sudden  accident,  wrecked  in  the  midst  of  security,  so  must  wc 
believe  that  thy  mighty  all-embracing  heart  sympathizes.  Pitier  of  the 
orphan,  God  of  the  widow,  cause  us  to  share  thy  pity  and  become  thy  mes¬ 
sengers  of  tenderness  in  our  small  measure.  Be  thou  the  Stay  of  all  in  life 
and  death.  Teach  all  to  know  and  trust  thee,  give  us  a  portion  here  and 
everywhere  with  thy  saints;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,”  Amen. — 
Francis  JV .  Newmrni  ( 1 805—1897) . 


79 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  21 

Wbe  Constant  presence  ot  d5oti 

(Ot  tf)t  SDa^t  “Jehovah  is  with  you  while  ye  are  with  him;  and 
if  ye  seek  him,  he  will  be  found  of  you.” — 2  Chronicles  15.  2. 

Htg»£0rt(ottf)ei&Dag:  Psalm  139.  1,  2,  7-12. 

1  O  Jehovah,  thou  hast  searched  me,  and  known  me. 

2  Thou  knowest  my  downsitting  and  mine  uprising; 

Thou  understandest  my  thought  afar  off. 

•  «•••••••••• 

7  Whither  shall  I  go  from  thy  Spirit? 

Or  whither  shall  I  flee  from  thy  presence? 

8  If  I  ascend  up  into  heaven,  thou  art  there: 

If  I  make  my  bed  in  Sheol,  behold,  thou  art  there. 

9  If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning, 

And  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea; 

10  Even  there  shall  thy  hand  lead  me, 

And  thy  right  hand  shall  hold  me. 

11  If  I  say,  Surely  the  darkness  shall  overwhelm  me, 

And  the  light  about  me  shall  be  night; 

.  12  Even  the  darkness  hideth  not  from  thee, 

But  the  night  shineth  as  the  day: 

The  darkness  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to  thee. 


“I  had  been  reading  in  my  nearly  dark  bedroom  by  an  air-tight  stove.  (I  was 
in  my  twenty-second  year.)  I  put  the  book  down  for  what  people  used  to  call  reflec¬ 
tion  and  I  saw  or  perceived  or  felt  that  I  was  not  alone  and  could  not  be  alone.  This 
present  Power  knows  me  and  loves  me.  I  know  him  and  love  him.  He  is  here  and 
I  am  here.  We  are  together.  And  it  is  a  companionship  much  closer  than  I  could 
have  with  any  human  being  sitting  in  that  chair.” — Edzvard  Everett  Hale. 

“The  time  of  business  does  not  with  me  differ  from  the  time  of  prayer;  and  in  the 
noise  and  clatter  of  my  kitchen,  while  several  persons  are  at  the  same  time  calling  for 
different  things,  I  possess  God  in  as  great  tranquillity  as  if  I  were  upon  my  knees.  .  .  . 
We  should  establish  ourselves  in  a  sense  of  God’s  presence  by  continually  conversing 
with  him.”- — Brother  Lawrence. 

(Ot  t “We  are  forced,  good  Father,  to  seek  thee  daily, 
and  thou  offerest  thyself  daily  to  be  found :  whensoever  we  seek  we  find 
thee — in  the  house,  in  the  fields,  in  the  temple,  and  in  the  highway.  What¬ 
soever  we  do,  thou  art  with  us;  whether  we  eat  or  drink,  whether  we  write 
or  work,  go  to  ride,  read,  meditate,  or  pray,  thou  art  ever  with  us;  where¬ 
soever  we  are,  or  whatsoever  we  do,  we  feel  some  measure  of  thy  mercies 
and  love.  If  we  be  oppressed,  thou  defendest  us;  if  we  be  envied,  thou 
guardest  us;  if  we  hunger,  thou  feedest  us;  whatsoever  we  want,  thou 
givest  us.  O  continue  this  thy  loving-kindness  toward  us  forever,  that  all 
the  world  may  see  thy  power,  thy  mercy,  and  thy  love,  wherein  thou  hast  not 
failed  us  and  even  our  enemies  shall  see  that  thy  mercies  endure  forever.” — 
J.  Nor  den  (1548-1625). 


80 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  22 

W&t  $amtp  ot  €>ppogmQ;  (Bob 

l&tZ&t  (Ot  t^t  “O  children  of  Israel,  fight  ye  not  against  Jehovah, 

the  God  of  your  fathers;  for  ye  shall  not  prosper.” — 2  Chronicles  13.  12. 

2^00011  (OttljtSDag:  Psalm  2.  1-6. 

1  Why  do  the  nations  rage, 

And  the  peoples  meditate  a  vain  thing? 

2  The  kings  of  the  earth  set  themselves, 

And  the  rulers  take  counsel  together, 

Against  Jehovah,  and  against  his  anointed,  saying, 

3  Let  us  break  their  bonds  asunder, 

And  cast  away  their  cords  from  us. 

4  He  that  sitteth  in  the  heavens  will  laugh: 

The  Lord  will  have  them  in  derision. 

5  Then  will  he  speak  unto  them  in  his  wrath, 

And  vex  them  in  his  sore  displeasure: 

6  Yet  I  have  set  my  king 
Upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion. 


“The  writer  of  this  psalm  in  his  widespread  view  discerns  a  perpetual  restlessness, 
a  ceaseless  movement  of  discontent,  the  throbbing  of  a  rebellion  that  is  never  appeased, 
of  a  vain,  bitter,  ceaseless  revolt  against  the  Ruler  of  the  universe.  That  rebellion 
against  God,  which  in  the  masses  is  half  unconscious,  finds  utterance  in  the  plans  and 
words  of  men  of  power.  Why  does  the  world  fret  against  the  order  of  the  universe, 
against  the  government  of  God?  The  psalmist  clearly  sees  its  utter  futility.  He  would 
lead  us  to  realize  how  vain  and  futile  it  is;  to  discern  that  in  the  righteous  will  of  Jehovah, 
as  revealed  in  Christ  and  in  the  laws  of  his  kingdom,  is  an  omnipotent  purpose,  inflex¬ 
ible,  unchangeable,  and  certain  to  prevail.” 

“The  prophets  have  the  sharpest  rebuke  for  those  who  think  of  Jehovah  as  a  Deity 
on  whom  they  can  depend  whatever  their  character.  Jehovah  is  a  God  with  a  char¬ 
acter.  He  is  with  his  people  when  they  are  right.  He  is  against  them  when  they 
are  wrong.  His  people  must  choose  righteousness  and  follow  it  if  they  are  to  have  his 
favor.  Just  because  God  has  chosen  his  people  they  are  the  more  responsible.  Just 
because  he  is  their  God  it  is  all  the  more  necessary  that  they  obey  the  behests  of  right¬ 
eousness.” — Lynn  Harold  Hough. 

(Ot  tf)t  How  vain  is  it,  O  God,  for  the  children  of  men 

to  strive  against  thee !  Thine  is  omnipotent  power.  Beside  it  how  frail 
and  weak  are  the  strongest  of  men !  Yet  how  prone  we  are  to  follow  our  own 
devices  and  to  forget  thee!  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us  and  in  thy  long- 
suffering  turn  graciously  unto  us  even  when  we  are  unmindful  of  thee.  For¬ 
give  us  when  we  are  selfish  and  earthly-minded,  when  we  are  forgetful  of 
thy  goodness.  Forgive  us  when  we  are  ungrateful,  and  gloomy,  and  dis¬ 
contented.  Forgive  us  also  when  we  are  self-satisfied,  and  vain  and  friv¬ 
olous,  not  perceiving  our  own  folly.  Give  unto  us  of  thy  Spirit  that  we 
may  earnestly  seek  to  walk  in  thy  ways  and  to  do  thy  will.  Send  forth  thy 
Spirit  into  the  hearts  of  all  who  wander  from  thee.  Hasten  the  coming  of 
thy  kingdom  among  men  when  thy  will  shall  be  done  throughout  all  the 
earth.  For  thy  name’s  sake.  Amen. 

81 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  23 
Ijmnt j  Upon 

\&ZZ#Z  f 0t  tf)Z  “The  hand  of  our  God  is  upon  all  them  that  seek 

him  for  good.” — Ezra  8.  22. 

%Z&&(mtOZti)Z  Ezra  7.  6,  8-10. 

6  Ezra  went  up  from  Babylon.  And  he  was  a  ready  scribe 
in  the  law  of  Moses,  which  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  had  given: 
and  the  king  granted  him  all  his  request,  according  to  the  hand 
of  Jehovah  his  God  upon  him. 

8  And  he  came  to  Jerusalem  in  the  fifth  month,  which  was  in 
the  seventh  year  of  the  king.  9  For  upon  the  first  day  of  the  first 
month  began  he  to  go  up  from  Babylon,  and  on  the  first  day  of  the 
fifth  month  came  he  1 6  Jerusalem,  according  to  the  good  hand  of 
his  God  upon  him.  10  For  Ezra  had  set  his  heart  to  seek  the  law 
of  Jehovah,  and  to  do  it,  and  to  teach  in  Israel  statutes  and  ordi¬ 
nances. 


“Of  that  great  change  which  turned  me  from  one  whose  business  was  to  shirk 
into  one  whose  business  was  to  strive  and  persevere — it  seems  as  though  all  that  had 
been  done  by  some  one  else.  I  was  never  conscious  of  a  struggle,  nor  registered  a  vow, 
nor  seemingly  had  anything  personal  to  do  with  the  matter.  I  came  about  like  a 
well-handled  ship.  There  stood  at  the  wheel  that  unknown  steersman  whom  we  call 
God.” — Robert  Louis  Stevenson. 

“That  the  Almighty  does  make  use  of  human  agencies  and  directly  intervenes 
in  human  affairs  is  one  of  the  plainest  statements  of  the  Bible.  I  have  so  many  evi¬ 
dences  of  his  direction,  so  many  instances  when  I  have  been  controlled  by  some  other 
power  than  my  own  will,  that  I  cannot  doubt  that  this  power  comes  from  above.  I 
frequently  see  my  way  clear  to  a  decision  when  I  am  conscious  that  I  have  not  sufficient 
facts  upon  which  to  found  it.  ...  I  am  satisfied  that  when  the  Almighty  wants  me  to 
do  or  not  to  do  a  particular  thing  he  finds  a  way  of  letting  me  know  it.” — Abraham 
Lincoln. 

f 0t  We  bless  thee,  O  Lord,  for  our  fellowship  in  the 

truth,  for  the  knowledge  of  thy  Son,  our  all-sufficient  Saviour,  and  for  the 
joy  and  consolation  of  thy  word.  We  bless  thee  for  our  relation  to  thy 
church,  for  our  fellowship  with  thy  people,  and  for  all  the  means  of  instruc¬ 
tion  and  counsel  provided  for  us.  We  gratefully  acknowledge  thee,  O  our 
God,  to  be  the  unfailing  source  of  these,  and  our  other  mercies,  from  day  to 
day.  We  have  nothing  which  we  have  not  received;  and  we  bless  thee  that 
we  are  dependent  upon  thee,  that  our  lives  are  in  thy  hands,  and  that  all 
our  need  is  supplied  by  thee  according  to  thy  riches  in  glory,  by  Christ  Jesus. 
Thou  hast  the  greatest  claim  to  our  love,  to  our  submission,  and  to  our 
obedience.  O,  help  me  by  thy  all-sufficient  grace,  to  render  unto  thee  all 
thou  claimest — to  love  thee  with  all  our  hearts,  and  with  all  our  minds, 

and  with  all  our  souls,  and  with  all  our  strength.  Let  us  ever  feel  that 

loving  thee  is  our  chief  joy;  and  let  us  never  doubt  thy  love,  that  love  of 

which  thou  hast  given  such  proof  in  that  thou  hast  not  withheld  from  us 

thy  Son.  Hear  us  in  these  our  prayers  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.  Amen. 

82 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  24 

)t  Srubine  SDtectpltnE 

®tz$t  foE  tfje  Soap:  “  For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth.” — 
Hebrews  12.  6. 

Heston  tot  tfieSDap:  John  15.  1—7. 

1  I  am  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the  husbandman.  2 
Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  he  taketh  it  away:  and 
every  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  cleanseth  it,  that  it  may  bear 
more  fruit.  3  Already  ye  are  clean  because  of  the  word  which 
I  have  spoken  unto  you.  4  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the 
branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it  abide  in  the  vine;  so 
neither  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me.  5  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are 
the  branches;  He  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  beareth 
much  fruit:  for  apart  from  me  ye  can  do  nothing.  6  If  a  man 
abide  not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  withered;  and 
they  gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire,  and  they  are  burned. 
7  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ask  whatsoever 
ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you. 

“It  is  a  painful  thing,  this  pruning  work,  this  cutting  off  of  the  overluxuriant  shoots, 
in  order  to  call  back  the  wandering  juices  into  the  healthier  and  more  living  parts. 
In  religion  it  is  described  thus:  ‘Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  fruit,  he  purgeth  it, 
that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit.’  The  keen  edge  of  God’s  pruning-knife  cuts  sheer 
through.  No  weak  tenderness  stops  him  whose  love  seeks  goodness,  not  comfort,  for 
his  servants.” — Frederick  W.  Robertson. 

“Be  not  o’ermastered  by  thy  pain, 

But  cling  to  God,  thou  shalt  not  fall; 

The  floods  sweep  over  thee  in  vain, 

Thou  yet  shall  rise  above  them  all; 

For  when  thy  trial  seems  too  hard  to  bear, 

Lo!  God,  thy  King,  hath  granted  all  thy  prayer.” 

— P.  Gerhardt. 

pEftpEE  fsJE  tf$E  SDiip:  “O  Father  of  spirits!  Thou  lovest  whom  thou 
chasteneth !  Correct  us  in  our  weakness  as  the  children  of  men,  that  we 
may  love  thee  in  our  strength  as  the  sons  of  God.  Wake  in  us  a  soul  to 
obey  thee,  not  with  the  weariness  of  servile  spirits,  but  with  the  alacrity 
of  the  holy  angels.  Fill  it  with  a  contempt  of  evil  pleasures  and  unfaith¬ 
ful  ease;  sustain  us  in  the  strictness  of  a  devout  life.  Daily  may  we  crucify 
every  selfish  affection,  and  delight  to  bear  one  another’s  burdens,  to  uphold 
each  other’s  faith  and  charity,  being  tender-hearted  and  forgiving  as  we  hope 
to  be  forgiven.  Hold  us  to  the  true  humility  of  the  soul  that  has  not  yet 
attained ;  and  may  we  be  modest  in  our  desire,  diligent  in  our  trust,  and 
content  with  the  disposals  of  thy  Providence.  O  Lord!  thy  counsels  are 
secret;  thy  wisdom  is  infinite;  we  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth; 
when  our  hour  arrives,  may  we  freely  trust  ourselves  to  thee,  and  say,  'Father, 
into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit.’”  Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805— 
1900). 


83 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  25 

CSttet  Out  JtitJtre 

PttjS^t  fot  2Da#t  “He  hath  appointed  a  day  in  which  he  will  judge 
the  world  in  righteousness  by  the  man  whom  he  hath  ordained.” — Acts 
17.  31. 

Htsteon  (or  fyt  SDap:  Acts  10.  39-42. 

39  And  we  are  witnesses  of  all  things  which  he  did  both  in  the 
country  of  the  Jews,  and  in  Jerusalem;  whom  also  they  slew,  hang¬ 
ing  him  on  a  tree.  40  Him  God  raised  up  the  third  day,  and  gave 
him  to  be  made  manifest,  41  not  to  all  the  people,  but  unto  wit¬ 
nesses  that  were  chosen  before  of  God,  even  to  us,  who  ate  and 
drank  with  him  after  he  rose  from  the  dead.  42  And  he  charged 
us  to  preach  unto  the  people,  and  to  testify  that  this  is  he  who  is 
ordained  of  God  to  be  the  Judge  of  the  living  and  the  dead. 


“Teach  us  to  look  in  all  our  ends 
On  thee  for  Judge,  and  not  our  friends, 

That  we,  with  thee,  may  walk  uncowed 
By  fear  or  favor  of  the  crowd.” 

— Rudyard  Kipling. 


“Jesus  Christ  will  judge  us.  The  Judge  will  be  one  who  knows  our  human  life. 
The  Judge  will  be  one  who  is  our  example.  Best  of  all,  the  Judge  will  be  one  who  loves 
us.  He  who  was  called  the  Friend  of  sinners  will  be  our  Judge.  He  who  prayed, 
‘Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do,’  will  be  our  Judge.  He  who 
gave  himself  for  us,  even  to  the  death  upon  the  cross,  will  be  our  Judge.  He  whose 
hands  and  feet  and  side  are  marked  with  the  prints  of  the  passion,  the  evidences  of 
his  longing  and  his  love  for  us,  will  be  upon  the  throne  of  judgment.  That,  indeed, 
is  at  once  the  most  comforting  and  the  most  dreadful  fact  about  the  Judgment,  that 
He  who  will  judge  us  will  be  no  enemy,  and  no  avenger,  but  a  Friend,  who  love$  us 
and  who  gave  his  life  that  he  might  save  us.” — George  Hodges. 


ptapet  tot  tfjt  SDap:  “  O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  before  whose  judgment-seat 
we  shall  all  stand,  fill  us,  we  entreat  thee,  with  devout  fear  and  awe  of 
thy  most  searching  and  just  judgment,  but  much  more  fill  us  with  love 
and  longing  for  thy  coming.  Now  help  us  to  cease  from  evil  and  do  well; 
to  forgive  as  we  would  be  forgiven ;  to  crave  forgiveness  if  we  have  wronged 
any;  to  judge  our  brother  charitably  or  not  at  all;  to  pray  for  ourselves  and 
for  all  men ;  to  plead  with  exceeding  earnestness  for  every  soul  which  thou 
hast  redeemed ;  to  hope  in  thee  alone,  trust  in  thee  alone,  love  all  in  thee  and 
thee  above  all ;  that  in  the  great  and  terrible  day  of  the  Lord  we  may,  of 
thy  free  mercy,  behold  thy  hands  full  of  blessing,  thy  countenance  full  of 
grace,  and  hear  thy  voice  saying,  ‘Well  done.’  ”  Amen. — Christina  G. 
Rossetti  (1830-1894). 


84 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  26 

^DutgelbejS  as  ^iss  aHorfemansSip 

IPftjSr  for  tfie  &>ap:  “  For  we  are  his  workmanship,  created  in  Christ 

Jesus  for  good  works.” — Ephesians  2.  10. 

Heston  for  tfje  SDap:  Deuteronomy  32.  3—7. 

3  For  I  will  proclaim  the  name  of  Jehovah: 

Ascribe  ye  greatness  unto  our  God. 

4  The  Rock,  his  work  is  perfect; 

For  all  his  ways  are  justice: 

A  God  of  faithfulness  and  without  iniquity, 

Just  and  right  is  he. 

5  They  have  dealt  corruptly  with  him,  they  are  not  his  chil¬ 

dren,  it  is  their  blemish; 

They  are  a  perverse  and  crooked  generation. 

6  Do  ye  thus  requite  Jehovah, 

O  foolish  people  and  unwise? 

Is  not  he  thy  father  that  hath  bought  thee? 

He  hath  made  thee,  and  established  thee. 

7  Remember  the  days  of  old, 

Consider  the  years  of  many  generations: 

Ask  thy  father,  and  he  will  show  thee, 

Thine  elders,  and  they  will  tell  thee. 


“Great  Sculptor!  hew  and  polish  us,  nor  let 
Hidden  and  lost  thy  form  within  us  lie. 

Spare  not  the  stroke;  do  with  us  as  thou  wilt; 

Let  there  be  naught  unfurnished,  broken,  marred; 

Complete  thy  purpose  that  we  may  become 
Thy  perfect  image,  O  our  God  and  Lord.” 

“If  we  are  to  be  thus  disciplined  and  trained,  as  workmen  in  various  orders  of 
work,  instruments  thus  formed  for  God’s  service,  what  may  we  look  to  become  here¬ 
after?  May  not  instruments  thus  formed,  when  this  passing  scene  is  over,  and  we 
appear  in  God’s  presence,  cleansed  and  disciplined,  with  the  true  workman’s  hand, 
may  we  not  be  set  to  work  in  higher  spheres,  in  grander  ministries,  in  a  world  of  nobler 
service?” — T.  T.  Carter. 


f0t  tfyt  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  we  are  created 

unto  good  works,  let  our  weakness  move  thy  strength  to  succor  us.  Bless, 
we  beseech  thee,  those  whom  we  love  with  special  affection;  and  from  the 
treasure-house  of  thy  bounty  supply  their  wants,  enrich  and  rejoice  their 
spirits,  and  overflow  all  their  capacities  with  thy  goodness.  We  pray  also 
for  all  whom  we  do  not  know  or  specially  love.  Grant  to  them,  as  to  us, 
every  blessing;  the  unbelieving,  convert;  the  vicious,  reform;  the  cold,  kindle; 
the  indifferent,  rouse;  the  fallen,  raise;  the  penitent,  restore;  the  lost,  find. 
Intercede  for  us  with  God  the  Father,  O  thou  who  art  our  God  and  a  Man 
our  Brother;  and  bring  us  unto  the  riches  of  thy  glory  in  thy  kingdom.” 
Amen. — Christina  G.  Rossetti  (1830-1894). 

8S 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  27 

^6 1  SDigmtp  anb  MortJ  ot  Suntan  Hitt 

P?E£»C  (Ot  tf)t  “And  God  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  image, 

after  our  likeness:  and  let  them  have  dominion.” — Genesis  1.  26. 

2£t£0on(0ttf)t£Dap:  Psalm  8.  3-6. 

3  When  I  consider  thy  heavens,  the  work  of  thy  fingers, 

The  moon  and  the  stars,  which  thou  hast  ordained; 

4  What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him? 

And  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  visitest  him? 

5  For  thou  hast  made  him  but  little  lower  than  God, 

And  crownest  him  with  glory  and  honor. 

6  Thou  makest  him  to  have  dominion  over  the  works  of  thy 

hands ; 

Thou  hast  put  all  things  under  his  feet. 

“Our  present  low  civilization,  the  central  idea  of  which  is  wealth,  cannot  last 
forever;  the  mass  of  men  are  not  doomed  hopelessly  to  the  degradation  in  which  they 
are  sunk.  A  new  comprehension  of  the  end  and  dignity  of  a  human  being  is  to  remodel 
social  institutions  and  manners.  In  Christianity  and  in  the  powers  of  human  nature 
we  have  promise  of  something  holier  and  happier  than  now  exists.  We  have  been 
made  drunk  with  the  spirit  of  rapid  accumulation  and  maddened  with  prospects  of 
boundless  wealth.  Nothing  but  Christianity,  which  is  in  direct  hostility  to  the  present 
spirit  of  accumulation,  can  heal  the  woes  of  society.” — William  Ellery  Charming. 

(Dt  tf)t  “Lord  of  man,  we  bless  thee  that  we  have  lived  in 

this  day — this  day  of  the  revelation  of  man  in  his  majesty  and  man  sub¬ 
ject  of  redemption  and  participator  in  the  saving  of  the  world.  We  thank 
thee  that  we  are  with  our  eyes  beholding  what  the  prophets  watched  for 
wet-eyed  and  dreamfully  and  saw  not,  while  we  their  successors  see  it, 
though  with  us  it  breaks  like  a  dawn  of  eternity.  .  .  .  Man  has  come 

to  his  appointed  hour  of  God.  All  labor  becomes  of  more  consequence  than 
the  lineages  of  kings  and  the  sorry  story  of  other  and  bruised  days.  The 
man  who  works  and  the  woman  who  works  are  seen  to  be  the  helpers  of 
the  world.  Work  has  become  an  apocalypse  and  common  men  are  seen  un¬ 
common  and  gigantic.  It  is  thy  doing.  We  see  how  Christ  died  for  all 
men,  that  all  men  might  be  equals.  Thou  wast  right:  human  history  and 
procedure  were  wrong,  shamefully  and  sullenly  wrong.  Thy  way  was  the 
way  of  the  soul,  and  on  the  heights  where  deathless  glory  wakes,  there  stands 
man.  .  .  .  Lord,  help  us  not  to  be  decoyed  into  misunderstanding  of 

this  high  event.  Keep  us  from  the  poor  logic  of  thinking  man  has  wrought 
this  deliverance.  Help  us  to  see  the  Lord  of  man  and  to  keep  forever  before 
our  enraptured  understanding  that  the  Son  of  man  is  the  lifter  of  man.  Help 
this  exultant  man,  this  world  man  to  be  God’s  man,  lest  he  shame  his  high 
estate  by  trailing  a  royal  banner  in  the  dust.  Help  this  exultant  son  of  man, 
this  interracial  giant,  to  fall  in  love  with  Jesus  Christ,  the  Lord,  and  may 
there  hereafter  be  no  color  line  nor  whisperings  of  superiors  and  inferiors, 
but  only  a  world  call  with  a  world  voice:  ‘Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven, 
hallowed  be  thy  name.’”  Amen. — William  A.  Quayle  (b.  i860). 

86 


AWE  AND  REVERENCE 


MARCH  28 

Suntan  fflieltari  anti  3|u£tice 

for  tfje  £Dag:  “  But  with  righteousness  shall  he  judge  the  poor, 
and  decide  with  equity  for  the  meek  of  the  earth.” — Isaiah  11.  4. 

£e££onfOttf)e2Dag:  Psalm  72.  1-5,  12-13. 

1  Give  the  king  thy  judgments,  O  God, 

And  thy  righteousness  unto  the  king’s  son. 

2  He  will  judge  thy  people  wjth  righteousness, 

And  thy  poor  with  justice. 

3  The  mountains  shall  bring  peace  to  the  people, 

And  the  hills,  in  righteousness. 

4  He  will  judge  the  poor  of  the  people, 

He  will  save  the  children  of  the  needy, 

.  And  will  break  in  pieces  the  oppressor. 

5  They  shall  fear  thee  while  the  sun  endureth, 

And  so  long  as  the  moon,  throughout  all  generations. 

12  For  he  will  deliver  the  needy  when  he  crieth; 

And  the  poor,  that  hath  no  helper. 

13  He  will  have  pity  on  the  poor  and  needy, 

And  the  souls  of  the  needy  he  will  save. 

“They  are  slaves  who  fear  to  speak 
For  the  fallen  and  the  weak; 

They  are  slaves  who  will  not  choose 
Hatred,  scoffing,  and  abuse, 

Rather  than  in  silence  shrink 

From  the  truth  they  needs  must  think; 

They  are  slaves  who  dare  not  be 

In  the  right  with  two  or  three.” — James  Russell  Lowell. 

“The  love  that  builds  palatial  homes  and  fills  them  with  luxurious  furnishings 
and  costly  statuary  is  not  love  for  God  or  humanity.  I  do  not  envy  homes  built  for 
family  prestige.  I  tremble  for  their  inmates  lest  they  banish  Christ,  who  loves  the 
lowly,  lonely,  hungry,  shivering,  neglected  ones.  He  allows  comfort,  but  not  luxury 
until  all  God’s  claims  have  been  met,  and  never  were  more  millions  facing  starvation 
than  to-day  right  in  the  heart  of  Christendom.  It  is  surely  not  God’s  time  for  build¬ 
ing  fortunes  out  of  his  bounty,  or  for  the  American  people  to  be  untrue  to  their  stew¬ 
ardship  of  freedom  and  equal  opportunities  for  all  peoples.” — Earl  Cranston. 

fOt  t|)C  jSD&JH  “O  God,  give  unto  all  those  who  frame,  interpret, 
or  administer  human  law  the  counsel  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  they  may 
know  themselves  thy  ministers.  Remove  from  them  all  pride  and  vain¬ 
glory  of  class,  all  prejudices  of  birth  and  training,  all  narrowness  of  place. 
Enable  them  so  to  receive  the  precepts  and  examples  of  the  past  that  they 
build  upon  the  heritage  of  the  fathers  a  just  and  adequate  edifice  of  law  for 
the  present.  Suffer  them  neither  to  be  swayed  by  the  prejudices  nor  to 
appeal  to  the  weaknesses  of  others,  but  to  counsel  wisely  in  all  matters;  to 
be  the  servants  of  all  men,  but  the  hirelings  of  none,  and  so  to  hasten  the 
coming  of  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth,  for  which  we  pray.  In  Christs 
name.”  Amen. — Frederick  Harris  (b.  1873). 

87 


JOY 


MARCH  29 

3Ioj?  anti  <Blatnw0<s 


tor  tljt  2Dag:  “  The  joy  of  Jehovah  is  your  strength.’’ — Nehemiah 
8.  10. 

on  to z  t&e&ag:  Isaiah  61.  10-62.  3. 

10  I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  Jehovah,  my  soul  shall  be  joyful 
in  my  God;  for  he  hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments  of  salvation, 
he  hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness,  as  a  bridegroom 
decketh  himself  with  a  garland,  and  as  a  bride  adorneth  herself 
with  her  jewels.  11  For  as  the  earth  bringeth  forth  its  bud,  and 
as  the  garden  causeth  the  things  that  are  sown  in  it  to  spring  forth; 
so  the  Lord  Jehovah  will  cause  righteousness  and  praise  to  spring 
forth  before  all  the  nations. 

62.  1  For  Zion’s  sake  will  I  not  hold  my  peace,  and  for  Jeru¬ 
salem’s  sake  I  will  not  rest,  until  her  righteousness  go  forth  as 
brightness,  and  her  salvation  as  a  lamp  that  burneth.  2  And  the 
nations  shall  see  thy  righteousness,  and  all  kings  thy  glory;  and 
thou  shalt  be  called  by  a  new  name,  which  the  mouth  of  Jehovah 
shall  name.  3  Thou  shalt  also  be  a  crown  of  beauty  in  the  hand  of 
Jehovah,  and  a  royal  diadem  in  the  hand  of  thy  God. 


“Take  Joy  home, 

And  make  a  place  in  thy  great  heart  for  her 
And  give  her  time  to  grow,  and  cherish  her. 

Then  will  she  come,  and  oft  will  sing  to  thee 
When  thou  art  working  in  the  furrows;  aye, 

Or  weeding  in  the  sacred  hour  of  dawn. 

It  is  a  comely  fashion  to  be  glad; 

Joy  is  in  the  grace  we  say  to  God.” — Jean  Ingelow. 

(Ot  tf)t  “O  thou  who  didst  lay  the  foundations  of  the 

earth  amid  the  singing  of  the  morning  stars  and  the  joyful  shouts  of  the 
sons  of  God,  lift  up  our  little  lives  unto  thy  gladness.  Out  of  thee,  as  out 
of  an  everflowing  fountain  of  love,  wells  forth  eternally  a  stream  of  blessing 
upon  every  creature  thou  hast  made.  If  we  have  any  thought  that  thou 
didst  call  into  being  this  universe  in  order  to  win  praise  and  honor  for  thy¬ 
self,  rebuke  the  vain  fancies  of  our  foolish  minds  and  show  us  that  thy  glory 
is  the  joy  of  giving.  We  can  give  thee  nothing  of  our  own.  All  that  we 
have  is  thine.  Oh,  then,  help  us  to  glorify  thee  by  striving  to  be  like  thee. 
Make  us  just  and  pure  and  good  as  thou  art.  May  we  be  partakers  of  thy 
divine  nature,  so  that  all  that  is  truly  human  in  us  may  be  deepened,  puri¬ 
fied,  and  strengthened,  and  so  may  we  be  witnesses  for  thee,  lights  of  the 
world,  reflecting  thy  light.  Help  us  to  make  religion  a  thing  so  beautiful 
that  all  men  may  be  won  to  surrender  to  its  power.  Let  us  manifest  in  our 
lives  its  sweetness  and  excellency,  its  free  and  ennobling  spirit.  Forbid  that 
we  should  go  up  and  down  the  world  with  melancholy  looks  and  dejected 
visage,  lest  we  should  repel  men  from  entering  thy  kingdom.  Rather,  may 
we  walk  in  the  freedom  and  joy  of  faith,  and  with  thy  new  song  in  our 
mouths,  so  that  men  looking  on  us  may  learn  to  trust  and  to  love  thee.” 
Amen. — Samuel  McComb  (b.  1864). 

88 


JOY  MARCH  30 

Hf)t  of  CJjmfulnegg 

^EEJsjE  (0t  “Rejoice  in  the  Lord  always:  again  I  will  say, 

Rejoice.” — Philippians  4.  4. 

%t$$0n  f0t  tfjeSDag:  Psalm  100. 

1  Make  a  joyful  noise  unto  Jehovah,  all  ye  lands. 

2  Serve  Jehovah  with  gladness: 

Come  before  his  presence  with  singing. 

3  Know  ye  that  Jehovah,  he  is  God: 

It  is  he  that  hath  made  us,  and  we  are  his; 

We  are  his  people,  and  the  sheep  of  his  pasture. 

4  Enter  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving, 

And  into  his  courts  with  praise: 

Give  thanks  unto  him,  and  bless  his  name. 

5  For  Jehovah  is  good;  his  loving-kindness  endureth  forever, 
And  his  faithfulness  unto  all  generations. 


“Are  you  for  having  as  much  cheerfulness  as  you  can?  So  am  I.  Do  you  en¬ 
deavor  to  keep  alive  your  taste  for  all  the  truly  innftcent  pleasures  of  life?  So  do  I 
likewise.  Do  you  refuse  no  pleasure  but  what  is  a  hindrance  to  some  greater  good, 
or  has  a  tendency  to  some  evil?  It  is  my  very  rule;  and  I  know  no  other  by  which  a 
sincere  reasonable  Christian  can  be  guided.” — John  Wesley. 

“I  cannot  understand  why  those  who  have  given  themselves  up  to  God  and  his 
goodness  are  not  always  cheerful,  for  what  possible  happiness  can  be  equal  to  that? 
No  accidents  or  imperfections  which  may  happen  ought  to  have  power  to  trouble  them, 
or  to  hinder  their  looking  upward.” — Saint  Francis  de  Sales. 


“A  cheerful  temper,  joined  with  innocence,  will  make  beauty  attractive,  knowl¬ 
edge  delightful,  and  wit  good  natured.  It  will  lighten  sickness,  poverty,  and  affliction; 
convert  ignorance  into  an  amiable  simplicity;  and  render  deformity  itself  agreeable.” 
— Addison. 


PtajPEE  f0E  tjjt  SDft£?  “We  would  walk  through  this  world  cheerfully 
and  hopefully,  seeking  evermore  to  serve  thee  with  faithful  hearts.  Inspire 
us  with  the  pure  love  of  righteousness.  Help  us  to  resist  what  is  evil,  and 
to  cleave  to  that  which  is  good.  Give  us  a  wise  and  understanding  heart  to 
do  thy  holy  will.  Grant  us  the  spirit  of  graciousness  and  true  humility, 
that  in  lowliness  of  mind  we  may  esteem  others  better  than  ourselves.  Help 
us  to  bear  each  other’s  burdens,  and  to  do  good  to  all  men  as  we  have  oppor¬ 
tunity,  remembering  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  he  said,  ‘It  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.’  Grant  this,  we  humbly  beseech  thee,  for 
the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. 


89 


JOY 


MARCH  31 

<m t  In  of  ILiit 


tOC  t{)£  “For  to  the  man  that  pleaseth  him  God  giveth 

wisdom,  and  knowledge,  and  joy.” — Ecclesiastes  2.  26. 

2te££on  tot  ttjeSDap:  Psalm  16.  8— 11. 

8  I  have  set  Jehovah  always  before  me: 

Because  he  is  at  my  right  hand,  I  shall  not  be  moved. 

9  Therefore  my  heart  is  glad,  and  my  glory  rejoiceth: 

My  flesh  shall  also  dwell  in  safety. 

10  For  thou  wilt  not  leave  my  soul  to  Sheol; 

Neither  wilt  thou  suffer  thy  holy  one  to  see  corruption. 

11  Thou  wilt  show  me  the  path  of  life: 

In  thy  presence  is  fullness  of  joy; 

In  thy  right  hand  there  are  pleasures  for  evermore. 


‘‘Half  the  world  is  on  the  wrong  scent  in  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  They  think 
it  consists  in  having  and  getting,  and  in  being  served  by  others.  It  consists  in  giving 
and  in  serving  others.” — Henry  Drummond. 

• 

“It  is  not  rare  gifts  that  make  us  happy.  It  is  the  common  and  simple  and  uni¬ 
versal  gifts;  it  is  health,  and  the* glance  of  sunshine  in  the  morning;  it  is  fresh  air;  it 
is  the  friend;  it  is  the  kindliness  that  meets  11s  on  the  journey;  it  may  be  only  a  word, 
a  smile,  a  look;  it  is  these  and  not  any  rarity  of  blessing  that  are  God’s  gentle  art  of 
making  happy.” — G.  H.  Morrison. 


^taytz  (or  t!jc  £>ap  X  “O  God,  we  remember  with  sadness  our  want  of 
faith  in  thee.  What  might  have  been  a  garden  we  have  turned  into  a 
desert  by  our  sin  and  willfulness.  This  beautiful  life  which  thou  hast  given 
us  we  have  wasted  in  futile  worries  and  vain  regrets  and  empty  fears.  In¬ 
stead  of  opening  our  eyes  to  the  joy  of  life,  the  joy  that  shines  in  the  leaf, 
the  flower,  the  face  of  an  innocent  child,  and  rejoicing  in  it  as  a  sacrament, 
we  have  sunk  back  into  the  complainings  of  our  narrow  and  blinded  souls. 
O  deliver  us  from  the  bondage  of  unchastened  desires  and  unwholesome 
thoughts.  Help  us  to  conquer  hopeless  brooding  and  faithless  reflection,  and 
the  impatience  of  irritable  weakness.  To  this  end  increase  our  faith,  O  Lord, 
hill  us  with  a  completer  trust  in  thee,  and  a  desire  for  a  more  whole-hearted 
surrender  to  thy  will.  Then  every  sorrow  will  become  a  joy.  Then  shall 
we  say  to  the  mountains,  that  lie  heavy  on  our  souls,  ‘Remove  and  be  cast 
hence,’  and  they  shall  remove,  and  nothing  shall  be  impossible  unto  .us.  Then 
shall  we  renew  our  strength,  and  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles;  we 
shall  run  and  not  be  weary;  we  shall  walk  and  not  faint.  We  offer  this 
prayer  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Samuel  McComb 
(b.  1864). 


90 


JOY 


APRIL  i 


&  &oriQ  in  tty 

Cot  tty  SDag:  ‘  ‘The  joy  of  Jehovah  is  your  strength.” — Nchemuih 
8.  io  1.  c. 

JLt$$on  (or  tty  SDap:  Psalm  33.  1—5. 

1  Rejoice  in  Jehovah,  O  ye  righteous: 

Praise  is  comely  for  the  upright. 

2  Give  thanks  unto  Jehovah  with  the  harp: 

Sing  praises  unto  him  with  the  psaltery  of  ten  strings. 

3  Sing  unto  him  a  new  song; 

Play  skillfully  with  a  loud  noise. 

4  For  the  word  of  Jehovah  is  right; 

And  all  his  work  is  done  in  faithfulness. 

5  He  loveth  righteousness  and  justice: 

The  earth  is  full  of  the  loving-kindness  of  Jehovah. 

“Seek  to  cultivate  a  buoyant,  joyous  sense  of  the  crowded  kindnesses  of  God  in 
your  daily  life.” — Alexander  Maclaren. 


“Having  an  almighty  and  most  loving  Father,  in  whom  we  live,  and  move,  and 
have  our  being,  let  us  rejoice  in  him.  Having  a  most  loving  Saviour,  who  has  made 
himself  our  Brother,  and  feeds  us  with  his  life,  we  ought  surely  to  rejoice  in  him.  Hav¬ 
ing  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  with  us,  making  us  his  temples,  and  pouring  his  love  into 
our  hearts,  we  ought  certainly  to  answer  his  love,  and  rejoice  in  his  overflowing  good¬ 
ness.  ‘Rejoice  in  the  Lord  alway,  and  again  I  say,  Rejoice/  ” — William  Bernard 
Ullathorne. 


“Give  us,  0  give  us  the  man  who  sings  at  his  work.  Be  his  occupation  what  it 
may,  he  is  equal  to  any  of  those  who  follow  the  same  pursuit  in  silent  sullenness.  He 
will  do  more  in  the  same  time — he  will  do  it  better — he  will  persevere  longer.  One  is 
scarcely  sensible  of  fatigue  while  he  marches  to  music.  The  very  stars  are  said  to  make 
harmony  as  they  revolve  in  their  spheres.  Wondrous  is  the  strength  of  cheerfulness, 
although  past  calculation  its  power  of  endurance.  Efforts  to  be  permanently  useful, 
must  be  uniformly  joyful — a  spirit  all  sunshine,  graceful  from  very  gladness,  beau¬ 
tiful  because  bright.” — Thomas  Carlyle. 


(Dt  tty  “O  Lord  God,  Fountain  of  comfort  and  help,  of 

life  and  peace,  of  plenty  and  pardon,  who  fillest  heaven  with  thy  glory  and 
earth  with  thy  goodness;  we  give  thee  the  most  humble  and  earnest  returns 
of  glad  and  thankful  hearts  for  the  blessings  of  nature  and  the  blessings  of 
grace,  for  the  support  of  every  minute  and  the  gifts  of  every  day.  What  are 
we,  O  Lord,  and  what  is  our  father’s  house,  that  the  great  God  of  men 
and  angels  should  multiply  upon  us  the  proofs  of  his  loving-kindness?  Praised 
be  the  Lord  daily,  even  the  Lord  that  helpeth  us  and  poureth  his  blessings 
upon  us.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  his  Majesty  forever,  and  let  all  the  earth 
he  filled  with  his  glory.”  Amen. — Martineaus  Service  Book. 


91 


JOY 


APRIL  2 


(Bob’*)  Jfabor  tl)c  S>ourte  of  fl?ur  3log 

UeesSe  for  tlje  2Dag:  ‘  ‘And  he  brought  forth  his  people  with  joy, 

Arid  his  chosen  with  singing.” 

— Psalm  105.  43. 

JLt&&on  tot  tlje&my;  Isaiah  12.  1—6. 

1  And  in  that  day  thou  shalt  say,  I  will  give  thanks  unto  thee, 
O  Jehovah;  for  though  thou  wast  angry  with  me,  thine  anger  is 
turned  away,  and  thou  comfortest  me.  2  Behold,  God  is  my  salva¬ 
tion;  I  will  trust,  and  will  not  be  afraid:  for  Jehovah,  even  Jehovah 
is  my  strength  and  song;  and  he  is  become  my  salvation.  3  There¬ 
fore  with  joy  shall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  salvation. 
4  And  in  that  day  shall  ye  sa y,  Give  thanks  unto  Jehovah,  call 
upon  his  name,  declare  his  doings  among  the  peoples,  make  mention 
that  his  name  is  exalted.  5  Sing  unto  Jehovah;  for  he  hath  done 
excellent  things:  let  this  be  known  in  all  the  earth.  6  Cry  aloud 
and  shout,  thou  inhabitant  of  Zion:  for  great  in  the  midst  of  thee 
is  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 


“I  look  to  thee  in  every  need, 

And  never  look  in  vain; 

I  feel  thy  strong  and  tender  love, 

And  all  is  well  again; 

The  thought  of  thee  is  mightier  far 
Than  sin  and  pain  and  sorrow  are.” 

— Samuel  Longfellow. 


“O  God,  my  Father  and  my  Friend, 

Ever  thy  blessings  to  me  send! 

Let  me  have  virtue  for  my  guide, 

And  wisdom  always  at  my  side; 

Then  cheerfully  through  life  I’ll  go/ 

Nor  ever  feel  the  sting  of  woe: 

Contented  with  the  humblest  lot, 

Happy,  though  in  the  meanest  cot.” 

— Mrs.  Hemans. 


tf$Z  O  God,  we  daily  receive  thy  fatherly  blessings  and 

our  lives  are  sustained  by  thy  mercies.  Yet  how  often  do  we  forget  that  it 
is  thy  hand  which  so  bountifully  supplies  our  wants!  Help  us,  O  God,  that 
we  may  clearly  see  thy  goodness  and  continually  confess  that  it  is  not  our 
strength  hut  thy  gracious  favor  which  provides  for  our  happiness  and  blesses 
our  home.  Blessed  be  thou  O  Lord,  for  the  mercies  of  this  day.  May  our 
hearts  be  as  altars  of  thanksgiving  from  which  shall  rise  offerings  of  praise 
unto  thee.  May  we  show  our  gratitude  by  deeds  of  kindness,  so  that  other 
hearts  may  rejoice  with  ours.  And  mayest  thou  be  with  us  in  days  to  come, 
keeping  us  faithful  unto  all  the  duties  of  life.  Amen. 


92 


JOY 


APRIL  3 

CStisrtiatVg  31  o?  in  dSoti 


Cat  tf)£  lIDftJG  “The  meek  also  shall  increase  their  joy  in  Jehovah, 
and  the  poor  among  men  shall  rejoice  in  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. — 
Isaiah  29.  19. 

Cor  tljc  Dajn  Psalm  16.  1,  2,  5,  6,  8,  11. 

1  Preserve  me,  O  God;  for  in  thee  do  I  take  refuge. 

2  O  my  soul thou  hast  said  unto  Jehovah,  Thou  art  my  Lord: 
I  have  no  good  beyond  thee. 

5  Jehovah  is  the  portion  of  mine  inheritance  and  of  my  cup: 
Thou  maintainest  my  lot. 

6  The  lines  are  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant  places; 

Yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritage. 

8  I  have  set  Jehovah  always  before  me: 

Because  he  is  at  my  right  hand,  I  shall  not  be  moved. 

11  Thou  wilt  show  me  the  path  of  life: 

In  thy  presence  is  fullness  of  joy; 

In  thy  right  hand  there  are  pleasures  for  evermore. 


“Tell  them  that,  until  religion  cease  to  be  a  burden,  it  is  nothing;  until  prayer 
cease  to  be  a  weariness,  it  is  nothing.  However  difficult  and  however  imperfect,  the 
spirit  must  still  rejoice  in  it.” — Edward  Irving. 

“  ‘Live  while  you  live,’  the  epicure  would  say, 

‘And  seize  the  pleasures  of  the  present  day.’ 

‘Live  while  you  live,’  the  sacred  preacher  cries, 

‘And  give  to  God  each  moment  as  it  flies.’ 

Lord,  in  my  views  let  both  united  be; 

I  live  in  pleasure,  while  I  live  in  thee.” 

— Philip  Doddridge. 

% 

fOt  tf)£  “Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the  happiness  that 

attends  us  in  our  daily  life,  for  the  joys  of  our  daily  work,  for  the  success 
which  thou  givest  to  the  labors  of  our  hands,  and  the  strength  to  our  souls 
which  comes  from  our  daily  toil  on  the  earth.  We  thank  thee  for  the  plain 
and  common  household  joys  of  life,  for  the  satisfactions  of  friendship,  for 
the  blessedness  of  love  in  all  the  dear  relationships  of  mortal  life.  Father, 
we  thank  thee  that  amid  the  joys  of  the  flesh,  amid  the  delights  of  our  daily 
work,  and  all  the  sweet  and  silent  blessedness  of  mortal  friendship  and  love 
upon  the  earth,  thou  givest  us  the  supreme  joy  of  knowing  thee.  We  pray 
that  our  inner  lives  may  be  blameless,  and  that  our  outward  lives  may  be 
useful,  and  all  our  existence  blameless  and  beautiful  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord 
our  strength  and  our  Redeemer.  May  our  lives  be  marked  every  day  by 
some  new  lesson  we  have  learned,  some  duty  that  we  have  done,  some  faith¬ 
fulness  that  we  have  accomplished.  So  may  we  pass  from  glory  to  glory, 
till  we  are  changed  into  thine  own  image,  and  the  peace  of  thy  love  is  made 
perfect  in  us.  So  may  thy  kingdom  come  and  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as 
it  is  in  heaven.”  Amen. —  (Abbreviated).  Theodore  Parker  (1810-1860). 

93 


JOY 


APRIL  4 

<&t)e  3  op  ot  ^rtbice 


$£££>0  Cot  tf)£  “Behold,  my  servants  shall  sing  for  joy  of  heart.” 

— Isaiah  65.  14. 

2le0£on  tot  tfje  £Dap:  Philippians  2.  1-8. 

i  If  there  is  therefore  any  exhortation  in  Christ,  if  any  con¬ 
solation  of  love,  if  any  fellowship  of  the  Spirit,  if  any  tender 
mercies  and  compassions,  2  make  full  my  joy,  that  ye  be  of  the 
same  mind,  having  the  same  love,  being  of  one  accord,  of  one  mind ; 
3  doing  nothing  through  faction  or  through  vainglory,  but  in 
lowliness  of  mind  each  counting  other  better  than  himself ;  4  not 
looking  each  of  you  to  his  own  things,  but  each  of  you  also  to  the 
things  of  others.  5  Have  this  mind  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus:  6  who,  existing  in  the  form  of  God,  counted  not  the 
being  on  an  equality  with  God  a  thing  to  be  grasped,  7  but  emptied 
himself,  taking  the  form  of  a  servant,  being  made  in  the  likeness 
of  men;  8  and  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  him¬ 
self,  becoming  obedient,  even  unto  death,  yea,  the  death  of  the 
cross. 


“I  thank  thee,  Lord,  for  strength  of  arm 
To  win  my  bread, 

And  that,  beyond  my  need,  is  meat 
For  friend  unfed: 

I  thank  thee  much  for  bread  to  live, 

I  thank  thee  more  for  bread  to  give. 

“I  thank  thee,  Lord,  for  snug-thatched  roof 
In  cold  and  storm, 

And  that,  beyond  my  need,  is  room 
For  friend  forlorn: 

I  thank  thee  much  for  place  to  rest, 

But  more  for  shelter  for  my  guest. 

“I  thank  thee,  Lord,  for  lavish  love 
On  men  bestowed, 

Enough  to  share  with  loveless  folk 
To  ease  their  load. 

Thy  love  to  me  I  ill  could  spare, 

Yet  dearer  is  thy  love  I  share.”  — Robert  Davis. 

Ptft£££  f0t  tf)Z  O  God,  our  Father,  we  would  live  cheerful  and 

hopeful  lives.  Inspire  our  hearts  with  the  joy  of  thy  service.  Thou  hast 
said  through  thy  prophet  of  old,  “My  servants  shall  sing  for  joy  of  heart.” 
May  this  prophetic  word  be  realized  in  us.  Keep  us  from  being  weighed 
down  by  any  discouragement.  When  we  do  not  see  the  results  of  our  labors 
which  we  crave  give  us  faith  to  believe  that  no  labor  of  love  for  thee  can 
he  lost,  that  in  thine  own  good  time  the  seed  which  has  been  sown  shall 
bring  forth  fruit  unto  the  harvest.  Strengthen  us  in  all  that  we  under¬ 
take  in  thy  name;  grant  unto  us  counsel  and  wisdom,  perseverance,  faith, 
and  zeal.  Give  unto  us  wise  and  understanding  hearts  to  do  thy  will.  Help 
us  to  bear  one  another’s  burdens,  and  to  do  good  to  all  men  as  we  have  op¬ 
portunity.  Graciously  hear  our  prayer,  in  Jesus’  name.  Amen. 

94 


JOY 


APRIL  5 

Ufa  3log  of  t&c  Simple  Hitt 


f0E  ffyt  “Better  is  a  dry  morsel,  and  quietness  therewith, 

Than  a  house  full  of  feasting  with  strife.” 

— Proverbs  17.  I. 

ilestehmfot  tfjeSDap:  Proverbs  15.  16,  17.  1  Timothy  6.  6-9. 

16  Better  is  little,  with  the  fear  of  Jehovah, 

Than  great  treasure  and  trouble  therewith. 

17  Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs,  where  love  is, 

Than  a  stalled  ox  and  hatred  therewith. 

6.  6  But  godliness  with  contentment  is  great  gain;  7  for  we 
brought  nothing  into  the  world,  for  neither  can  we  carry  anything 
out;  8  but  having  food  and  covering  we  shall  be  therewith  content. 
9  But  they  that  are  minded  to  be  rich  fall  into  a  temptation  and  a 
snare  and  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  such  as  drown  men  in 
destruction  and  perdition. 


“Let  us  learn  to  be  content  with  what  we  have.  Let  us  get  rid  of  our  false  esti¬ 
mates,  set  up  all  the  higher  ideals — a  quiet  home,  vines  of  our  own  planting,  a  few  books 
full  of  the  inspiration  of  genius,  a  few  friends  worthy  of  being  loved,  and  able  to  love 
us  in  return,  a  hundred  innocent  pleasures  that  bring  no  pain  or  remorse,  a  devotion 
to  the  right  that  will  never  swerve,  a  simple  religion  empty  of  all  bigotry,  full  of  trust 
and  hope  and  love — and  to  such  a  philosophy  this  world  will  give  up  all  the  joy  it  has.” 
— David  Swing. 


“On  our  way  rejoicing  as  we  homeward  move, 

Hearken  to  our  praises,  O  thou  God  of  love! 

Is  there  grief  or  sadness?  Thine  it  cannot  be! 

Is  our  sky  beclouded?  Clouds  are  not  from  thee! 

On  our  way  rejoicing  as  we  homeward  move, 

Hearken  to  our  praises,  O  thou  God  of  love!” 

— J.  B.  S.  Monsell. 


y&Z&ytZ  fOE  tf)C  O  Lord,  how  are  we  lifted  up  and  our  souls  filled 

with  joy  when  we  realize  that  our  common  life  is  a  part  of  thy  great  plan. 
Impress  upon  us  that  we  may  serve  thee  in  our  ordinary  and  daily  avoca¬ 
tions,  that  no  matter  how  limited  the  spheres  of  our  lives,  how  humble  our 
tasks,  we  may  glorify  thy  name.  Aid  us  by  thy  grace  that  we  may  be 
rid  of  all  false  estimates,  of  all  unworthy  standards,  of  all  unchristian  ideals. 
May  our  measure  of  values  be  that  which  Christ  hast  given  to  the  world. 
May  we  constantly  remind  ourselves  that  the  daily  round,  the  common  task, 
will  furnish  all  we  ought  to  ask:  room  to  deny  ourselves,  a  road  to  lead  us 
daily  nearer  God.  Grant  unto  each  of  us  the  grace  of  a  contented  mind. 
Fill  our  hearts  with  love  and  joy  and  peace.  May  we  be  loyal  and  true  and 
unselfish.  May  we  bear  one  another’s  burdens  and  so  fulfill  the  law  of 
Christ.  Hear  our  petitions  and  answer  our  prayers  for  Jesus’  sake.  Amen. 


95 


JOY 


APRIL  6 


'ZIfie  30^0  ot  C5otj^  potttfe 


Wcz&t  tot  tl)e  2Dag: 


Htggonfot  tfje&ap: 


“One  thing  have  I  asked  of  Jehovah,  that  I  will 
seek  after: 

That  I  may  dwell  in  the  house  of  Jehovah  all  the 
days  of  my  life, 

To  behold  the  beauty  of  Jehovah, 

And  to  inquire  in  his  temple.” 

— Psalm  27.  4. 

Psalm  84.  1-7. 


1  How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Jehovah  of  hosts! 

2  My  soul  longeth,  yea,  even  fainteth  for  the  courts  of  Jehovah; 
My  heart  and  my  flesh  cry  out  unto  the  living  God. 

3  Yea,  the  sparrow  hath  found  her  a  house, 

And  the  swallow  a  nest  for  herself,  where  she  may  lay  her 
young, 

Even  thine  altars,  O  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

My  King,  and  my  God. 

4  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house: 

They  will  be  still  praising  thee. 

5  Blessed  is  the  man  whose  strength  is  in  thee; 

In  whose  heart  are  the  highways  to  Zion . 

6  Passing  through  the  valley  of  Weeping  they  make  it  a  place 

of  springs; 

Yea,  the  early  rain  covereth  it  with  blessings. 

7  They  go  from  strength  to  strength, 

Every  one  of  them  appeareth  before  God  in  Zion. 


“Great  God!  attend  while  Zion  sings 
The  joy  that  from  thy  presence  springs; 

To  spend  one  day  with  thee  on  earth 
Exceeds  a  thousand  days  of  mirth. 

“Might  I  enjoy  the  meanest  place 
Within  thy  house,  O  God  of  grace, 

Nor  tents  of  ease,  nor  thrones  of  power, 

Should  tempt  my  feet  to  leave  thy  door.”  — Isaac  Watts.  ^ 

Pta^EE  f0E  tt)E  SDajG  “O  God,  we  rejoice  in  the  invitation  thou  hast  given 
us,  ‘Seek  ye  my  face;’  and  our  hearts  make  answer,  ‘Thy  face,  Lord,  will 
we  seek.’  One  thing  have  we  desired  of  the  Lord ,  and  that  ivill  we  seek 
after ;  that  we  may  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  our  lives, 
to  behold  the  beauty  of  the  Lord,  and  to  inquire  in  his  temple. 

“In  time  of  trouble  do  thou  hide  us  in  thine  own  pavilion.  When  for¬ 
saken  of  all  others  through  change  or  death,  may  we  never  be  forsaken  of 

thee.  Lead  us  in  a  plain  path  because  of  our  enemies.  And  as  we  wait  on 

thee  may  we  renew  our  strength  and  mount  up  on  wings  as  eagles  toward 
thy  holy  heaven ;  may  we  run  our  race  and  not  be  weary ;  may  we  walk  the 
path  of  duty  and  not  faint.  May  courage  return ;  may  the  stout  heart  be 
given  us,  so  that  we  shall  meet  all  difficulty,  bravely,  as  becometh  saints.  We 

ask  it,  with  the  pardon  of  every  sin  and  shortcoming,  for  Jesus’  sake.”  Amen. 

96 


JOY 


APRIL  7 

a  Contented  Spirit 


Wti0t  toe  tge  £>ap:  “  For  I  have  learned,  in  whatsoever  state  I  am, 

therein  to  be  content.” — Philippians  4.  11. 

fLt$$on  tor  tljeSDap:  1  Timothy  6.  6—10. 

6  But  godliness  with  contentment  is  great  gain:  7  for  we 
brought  nothing  into  the  world,  for  neither  can  we  carry  anything 
out;  8  but  having  food  and  covering  we  shall  be  therewith  content. 
9  But  they  that  are  minded  to  be  rich  fall  into  a  temptation  and 
a  snare  and  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  such  as  drown  men 
in  destruction  and  perdition.  10  For  the  love  of  money  is  a  root 
of  all  kinds  of  evil:  which  some  reaching  after  have  been  led  astray 
from  the  faith,  and  have  pierced  themselves  through  with  many 
sorrows. 


“A  king  went  into  his  garden  one  morning  and  found  everything  withering  and 
dying.  He  asked  an  oak  that  stood  near  the  gate  what  the  trouble  was.  He  found 
that  it  was  sick  of  life  and  determined  to  die,  because  it  was  not  tall,  and  beautiful 
like  the  pine.  The  pine  was  out  of  heart  because  it  could  not  bear  grapes  like  the 
vine;  the  vine  was  going  to  throw  its  life  away,  because  it  could  not  stand  erect  and 
have  as  fine  fruit  as  the  pomegranate;  and  so  on  throughout  the  garden.  Coming  to 
the  heartsease,  the  king  found  its  bright  face  uplifted,  as  full  of  cheerfulness  as  ever. 
Said  the  king:  ‘Well,  heartsease,  I  am  glad  to  find  one  brave  little  flower  in  this  general 
discouragement  and  dying.  You  don’t  seem  to  be  one  bit  disheartened.’  ‘No,  your 
majesty.  I  know  I  am  of  small  account;  but  I  concluded  you  wanted  a  heartsease 
when  you  planted  me.  If  you  had  wanted  an  oak,  or  a  pine,  or  a  pomegranate,  you 
would  have  set  one  out.  So  I  am  bound  to  be  the  best  heartsease  that  ever  I  can.’  ” 
— William  Moo  die. 

“Those  who  repress  complaints,  murmurs,  and  peevish  bemoanings — better  still 
the  vexed  feelings  which  beset  us  when  those  around  inflict  petty  annoyances  and 
slights  on  us — will  really  find  that  their  little  daily  worries  are  turning  into  blessings.” 
— H.  L.  Sidney  Lear. 


tf )t  “We  confess,  O  God,  that  we  have  been  slow  of 

heart  to  recognize  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  thy  dealings  with  us;  that 
we  have  often  been  discontented  with  our  own  condition,  and  have  looked 
with  envy  and  uncharitableness  on  the  good  of  others;  and  that,  instead  of 
meekly  bowing  to  thy  will,  we  have,  by  our  repining  dispositions  and  cove¬ 
tous  affections,  oftentimes  rebelled  against  thee.  .  .  .  Confirm  our  faith 
in  the  assurance  thou  hast  given  us,  that  all  thy  ways  are  mercy  and  truth 
to  such  as  keep  thy  covenant  and  thy  testimonies,  and  that  all  things  work 
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  thee.  Grant  us  deliverance  from  anxious 
cares,  and  envious  tempers,  and  inordinate  affections.  And  teach  us  in 
whatsoever  state  we  are  therewith  to  be  content;  that  everywhere  and  in 
all  things  we  may  be  instructed  both  to  be  full  and  to  be  hungry,  both  to 
abound  and  to  suffer  need.  .  .  .  Incline  thine  ear,  O  God,  to  our  sup¬ 

plications,  which  we  offer  in  the  name  of  thy  beloved  Son,  our  Lord  and 
only  Saviour.”  Amen. — Family  Prayers ,  The  Church  of  Scotland,  1870. 


97 


JOY 


APRIL  8 


®f)e  IWcljejS  of  Cjittet 

UfClSt  fOt  tfjt  SDtipt  “And  ray  God  shall  supply  every  need  of  yours 
according  to  his  riches  in  glory  in  Christ  Jesus.” — Philippians  4.  19. 

%t$$on  for  tl)e2Dap:  I  Timothy  6.  17—19* 

17  Charge  them  that  are  rich  in  this  present  world,  that  they 
be  not  highminded,  nor  have  their  hope  set  on  the  uncertainty  of 
riches,  but  on  God,  who  giveth  us  richly  all  things  to  enjoy;  18 
that  they  do  good,  that  they  be  rich  in  good  works,  that  they  be 
ready  to  distribute,  willing  to  communicate;  19  laying  up  in  store 
for  themselves  a  good  foundation  against  the  time  to  come,  that 
they  may  lay  bold  on  the  life  which  is  life  indeed. 


“His  beauty  is  eternal;  his  kingdom  shall  have  no  end.” — Renan. 

“Christ  is  the  path — if  any  be  misled; 

He  is  a  robe — if  any  naked  be; 

If  any  chance  to  hunger — he  is  bread; 

If  any  be  a  bondman — he  is  free; 

If  any  be  but  weak — how  strong  is  he? 

To  dead  men,  life  he  is;  to  sick  men,  health; 

To  blind  men,  sight;  and  to  the  needy,  wealth; 

A  pleasure  without  loss; — a  treasure  without  stealth.” 

— Giles  Fletcher. 


“Thou,  0  Christ,  art  all  I  want; 

More  than  all  in  thee  I  find: 

Raise  me,  fallen;  cheer  me,  faint; 

Heal  me,  sick;  and  lead  me,  blind; 

Thou  of  life  the  fountain  art; 

Freely  let  me  take  of  thee; 

Spring  thou  up  within  my  heart. 

Rise  to  all  eternity.” 

— Charles  Kingsley. 


Cot  t!)t  “O  Lord  our  God,  to  thee  belong  mercies  and  for¬ 

giveness.  Though  we  have  rebelled  against  thee  grant  that  we  may 
more  and  more  taste  that  the  Lord  is  gracious  and  that  thou  art  the  Father 
of  mercies  and  the  God  of  all  comfort.  May  our  whole  life  be  a  constant 
coming  to  Jesus  as  unto  the  living  stone.  Give  unto  us  of  the  inexhaustible 
riches  of  Christ ;  parting  with  and  losing  our  poverty  in  his  wealth,  our  sin 
in  his  righteousness,  our  ignorance  in  his  knowledge,  our  folly  in  his  wisdom, 
and  our  weakness  in  his  strength.  As  he  was  made  sin  for  us,  so  may  we 
he  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him;  as  he  was  a  man  of  sorrows  for 
11s,  may  we  be  filled  with  joy  and  peace  in  believing  through  him.  O  our 
God,  continually  thus  supply  all  our  wants  out  of  his  fullness;  and  enable 
us  to  receive  grace  from  Jesus  to  purify  our  souls,  and  make  us  his  peculiar 
people,  filled  with  ardent  and  intense  love  to  our  Saviour,  and  zealous  of  good 
works.  May  Christ  be  formed  in  us,  the  hope  of  glory.  May  we  dwell  in 
him  and  he  in  us,  and  may  we  seek  to  diffuse  continually  the  knowledge  of 
his  grace  to  others.”  Amen. — E.  Bickersteth  (1786-1850). 

98 


JOY 


APRIL  9 

Cfjtisst  flDut  ©utDen  ©eatet 


©ersSt  tor  t^e  2Dag:  “  He  bare  the  sin  of  many,  and  made  intercession 
for  the  transgressors.'"’ — Isaiah  53.  1 2. 

JLe&s ion  tor  tfie  2Dap:  Isaiah  53.  1-6. 

1  Who  hath  believed  our  message?  and  to  whom  hath  the  arm 
of  Jehovah  been  revealed?  2  For  he  grew  up  before  him  as  a  tender 
plant,  and  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground :  he  hath  no  form  nor 
comeliness;  and  when  we  see  him,  there  is  no  beauty  that  we  should 
desire  him.  3  He  was  despised,  and  rejected  of  men;  a  man  of 
sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief :  and  as  one  from  whom  men 
hide  their  face  he  was  despised,  and  we  esteemed  him  not. 

4  Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried  our  sorrows;  yet 
we  did  esteem  him  stricken,  smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted.  5  But 
he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised  for  our 
iniquities:  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him;  and  with 
his  stripes  we  are  healed.  6  All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray; 
we  have  turned  every  one  to  his  own  way;  and  Jehovah  hath  laid 
on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all. 


“The  way  is  dark,  my  child,  but  leads  to  light; 

I  would  not  have  thee  always  walk  by  sight: 

My  dealings  now  thou  canst  not  understand; 

I  meant  it  so;  but  I  will  take  thy  hand, 

And  through  the  gloom  lead  safely  home  my  child. 

“The  way  is  long,  my  child!  but  it  shall  be 
Not  one  step  longer  than  is  best  for  thee, 

And  thou  shalt  know  at  last,  when  thou  shalt  stand 
Close  to  the  gate,  how  I  did  take  thy  hand, 

.  And  quick  and  straight  led  to  heaven’s  gate  my  child. 

“The  cross  is  heavy,  child!  yet  there  is  One 
Who  bore  a  heavier  for  thee:  my  Son, 

My  well-beloved;  with  him  bear  thine  and  stand; 

With  him  at  last,  and  from  thy  Father’s  hand, 

Thy  cross  laid  down,  receive  thy  crown,  my  child!” 

— Henry  N.  Cobb. 

fOt  tf)C  O  Lord  God,  we  confess  with  sorrow  our  transgres¬ 

sions.  The  remembrance  of  them  is  grievous  unto  us.  We  confess  that  we 
are  numbered  among  those  who  have  gone  astray;  often  we  have  turned  to 
our  own  way.  But  we  are  filled  with  gratitude  of  heart  when  we  remember 
that  Christ  is  our  Burden  Bearer ,  that  he  hath  borne  our  sins  and  that  he 
maketh  intercession  for  us.  Have  mercy  upon  us,  and  for  his  sake  pardon  our 
iniquities.  Renew  and  establish  the  mind  of  Christ  in  us.  Bless,  we  pray 
thee,  all  conditions  of  men.  Especially  bless  the  poor  and  oppressed.  Grant 
that  the  rich  and  the  powerful  may  be  brought  to  a  new  and  deeper  realization 
of  their  responsibility  for  the  welfare  of  their  fellows.  May  the  time  not  be 
long  delayed  when  there  shall  be  a  more  just  and  equal  distribution  of  the 
increase  of  human  toil,  when  all  shall  have  opportunity  to  live  the  more 
abundant  life.  In  the  name  of  Christ.  Amen, 

99 


JOY 


APRIL  10 


tnje  IBIcSiSins  ot  C^risStian  jfellotos&ip 

IPersfe  for  tt) t  2Dag:  “  For  I  had  much  joy  and  comfort  in  thy  love.” — 

Philemon  J. 

3Lt£&on  (or  tfje&ag:  Philippians  I.  3 — 1 1 . 

3  I  thank  my  God  upon  all  my  remembrance  of  you,  4  always 
in  every  supplication  of  mine  on  behalf  of  you  all  making  my  sup¬ 
plication  with  joy,  5  for  your  fellowship  in  furtherance  of  the 
gospel  from  the  first  day  until  now;  6  being  confident  of  this 
very  thing,  that  he  who  began  a  good  work  in  you  will  perfect  it 
until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ:  7  even  as  it  is  right  for  me  to  be  thus 
minded  on  behalf  of  you  all,  because  I  have  you  in  my  heart,  inas¬ 
much  as,  both  in  my  bonds  and  in  the  defense  and  confirmation  of 
the  gospel,  ye  all  are  partakers  with  me  of  grace.  8  For  God  is  my 
witness,  how  I  long  after  you  all  in  the  tender  mercies  of  Christ 
Jesus.  9  And  this  I  pray,  that  your  love  may  abound  yet  more 
and  more  in  knowledge  and  all  discernment;  10  so  that  ye  may 
approve  the  things  that  are  excellent;  that  ye  may  be  sincere  and 
void  of  offense  unto  the  day  of  Christ;  11  being  filled  with  the 
fruits  of  righteousness,  which  are  through  Jesus  Christ,  unto  the 
glory  and  praise  of  God. 

“But  as  we  meet  and  touch  each  day 
The  many  travelers  on  our  way, 

Let  every  such  brief  contact  be 

A  glorious,  helpful  ministry.”  — Susan  Coolidge. 

“We  do  know  that  we  may  receive  purification  from  one  another,  that  the  ten¬ 
derness,  and  love,  and  patience  of  one  man  act  in  a  marvelous  way  upon  another,  when 
those  qualities  seem  the  furthest  from  him,  when  he  most  confesses  that  they  do  not 
belong  to  him.  We  do  not  set  ourselves  deliberately  to  follow  examples.  The -exam¬ 
ples  get  the  mastery  over  us;  there  is  a  life  in  the  men  who  exhibit  them  which  awakens 
life  in  us.” — F.  D.  Maurice. 

(Ot  tf)t  O  Lord,  the  God  of  the  families  of  Israel,  we  lift 

up  our  hearts  to  thee.  Accept  our  thanks  for  all  the  blessings  of  this  day. 
For  all  bodily  comforts  we  thank  thee.  Still  more,  we  thank  and  praise 
thee  for  our  spiritual  privileges.  Thou  hast  granted  unto  us  not  only  health 
of  body,  but  soundness  of  mind.  Thou  hast  provided  not  merely  the  bread 
that  nourishes,  for  the  sustenance  of  our  mortal  bodies,  but  the  richer  food 
of  the  Word,  bringing  to  us  the  bread  of  life  and  the  water  of  life,  that 
our  souls  may  be  nourished  and  strengthened.  Especially  this  day  do  we 
thank  thee  for  the  blessing  of  Christian  fellowship ,  for  the  blessing  and 
strength  that  have  come  into  our  lives  from  association  with  those. who  love 
and  serve  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Flear  us  in  our  prayer  for  thy  blessing 
this  day.  Help  us  in  every  lawful  undertaking,  and  prosper  our  labor.  May 
we  wisely  and  truly  fill  the  place  assigned  to  us;  may  we  be  blessed  in  it, 
and  made  a  blessing.  Help  us  to  walk  daily  with  thee.  May  we  serve  our 
day  and  generation  by  the  will  of  God,  and  so,  when  we  fall  asleep,  may  we 
be  with  thee  forever.  We  beseech  thee  to  grant  us  these  blessings  for  the  sake 
of  Christ  our  Saviour.  Amen. 


IOO 


JOY 


APRIL  ii 


JFmtung  <3Dui  Satisfaction  m  C5oti 


f?CtSC  fOt  tj)C  SDa^t  “Delight  thyself  also  in  Jehovah; 

And  he  will  give  thee  the  desires  of  thy  heart.” 

— Psalm  37.  4. 


EtStfon  fottljeSDag:  Psalm  37.  3-7. 


3  Trust  in  Jehovah,  and  do  good; 

Dwell  in  the  land,  and  feed  on  his  faithfulness. 

4  Delight  thyself  also  in  Jehovah; 

And  he  will  give  thee  the  desires  of  thy  heart. 

5  Commit  thy  way  unto  Jehovah; 

Trust  also  in  him,  and  he  will  bring  it  to  pass. 

6  And  he  will  make  thy  righteousness  to  go  forth  as  the  light, 
And  thy  justice  as  the  noonday. 

7  Rest  in  Jehovah,  and  wait  patiently  for  him: 

Fret  not  thyself  because  of  him  who  prospereth  in  his  way, 
Because  of  the  man  who  bringeth  wicked  devices  to  pass. 


“Some  one  asked  Napoleon  when  he  was  an  exile  in  Saint  Helena  what  was  the 
happiest  day  in  his  life.  The  questioner,  as  if  to  anticipate  the  commander’s  answer, 
inquired  il  it  was  the  day  of  his  victory  at  Lodi,  at  Jena,  at  Austerlitz;  when  he  was 
crowned  emperor;  or  when  he  entered  Vienna,  Dresden,  or  Berlin,  in  triumph.  ‘No,’ 
said  the  emperor,  ‘it  was  none  of  these.  It  was  the  day  of  my  first  communion.  That 
was  the  happiest  day  in  all  my  life.’  The  incident  has  many  lessons,  the  chief  being 
this,  that,  after  all  is  said,  the  greatest  joy  in  life  is  when  we  realize  that  God’s  smile 
is  upon  us,  that  we  can  look  up  into  his  face  and  say,  ‘Abba,  Father.’  And  so  it  will 
ever  be  that  men,  after  they  have  won  fame  and  wealth  and  position,  will  look  to  the 
time  when,  as  little  children,  or  in  the  strength  of  youth,  they  looked  upon  God’s  recon¬ 
ciled  face.  To  the  true  Christian  there  is  no  need  of  looking  back  to  a  happy  moment 
long  ago,  but,  rather,  is  there  a  looking  forward  to  an  increasing  joy  in  fellowship  with 
God,  a  way  that  grows  ever  brighter,  shining  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.” 


Ptapet  for  t^e  Soap:  “  O  eternal  and  glorious  Lord  God,  since  thy  glory 
and  honor  is  the  great  end  of  all  thy  works,  we  desire  that  it  may  be  the 
beginning  and  end  of  all  our  prayers  and  services.  Let  thy  great  name  he 
glorious,  and  glorified,  and  sanctified  throughout  the  world.  Let  the  knowl¬ 
edge  of  thee  fill  all  the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.  Let  thy  wisdom, 
power,  justice,  goodness,  mercy,  and  truth  be  evident  unto  all  mankind, 
that  they  may  observe,  acknowledge,  and  admire  it,  and  magnify  the  name 
of  thee,  the  Eternal  God.  In  all  the  dispensations  of  thy  providence,  enable 
us  to  see  thee,  and  to  sanctify  thy  name  in  our  hearts  with  thankfulness, 
in  our  lips  with  thanksgiving,  in  our  lives  with  dutifulness  and  obedience. 
Enable  us  to  live  to  the  honor  of  that  great  name  of  thine  by  which  we  are 
called,  and  that,  as  we  profess  ourselves  to  be  thy  children,  so  we  may  study 
and  sincerely  endeavor  to  be  like  thee  in  all  goodness  and  righteousness,  that 
we  may  thereby  bring  glory  to  thee  our  Father  which  art  in  heaven ;  that 
we  and  all  mankind  may  ifave  high  and  honorable  thoughts  concerning  thee, 
in  some  measure  suitable  to  thy  glory,  majesty,  goodness,  wisdom,  bounty, 
and  purity,  and  may  in  all  our  words  and  actions  manifest  these  inward 
thoughts  touching  thee  with  suitable  and  becoming  words  and  actions ; 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Sir  Matthew  Plale  (1609—1676). 

IOI 


V 


ADORATION 


APRIL  12 


SDtbtne  Mununatfon 

(Dt  tf)t  “In  him  was  life;  and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men.” 

— John  I.  4. 

fot  tje  $Dap:  Isaiah  60.  1-3,  19,  20. 

i  Arise,  shine;  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of  Jehovah 
is  risen  upon  thee.  2  For,  behold,  darkness  shall  cover  the  earth, 
and  gross  darkness  the  peoples:  but  Jehovah  will  arise  upon  thee, 
and  his  glory  shall  be  seen  upon  thee.  3  And  nations  shall  come 
to  thy  light,  and  kings  to  the  brightness  of  thy  rising.  19  The  sun 
shall  be  no  more  thy  light  by  day;  neither  for  brightness  shall  the 
moon  give  light  unto  thee:  but  Jehovah  will  be  unto  thee  an  ever¬ 
lasting  light,  and  thy  God  thy  glory.  20  Thy  sun  shall  no  more 
go  down,  neither  shall  thy  moon  withdraw  itself:  for  Jehovah  will 
be  thine  everlasting  light,  and  the  days  of  thy  mourning  shall  be 
ended. 

“Thou  whose  Almighty  Word 
Chaos  and  darkness  heard, 

And  took  their  flight, 

Hear  us,  we  humbly  pray, 

And  where  the  gospel  day 
Sheds  not  its  glorious  ray, 

Let  there  be  light. 

Thou,  who  didst  come  to  bring 
On  thy  redeeming  wing 
Healing  and  sight, 

Health  to  the  sick  in  mind, 

Sight  to  the  inly  blind, 

0  now  to  all  mankind 
Let  there  be  light.” 

— J.  Marriott. 

“Eternal  God!  O  thou  that  only  art 
The  sacred  fountain  of  eternal  light 
And  blessed  loadstone  of  my  better  part, 

O  thou,  my  heart’s  desire,  my  soul’s  delight! 

Reflect  upon  my  soul,  and  touch  my  heart, 

And  then  my  heart  shall  prize  no  good  above  thee; 

And  then  my  trembling  thoughts  shall  never  start 
From  thy  commands,  or  swerve  the  least  degree, 

Or  once  presume  to  move,  but  as  they  move  in  thee. 

— Francis  Quarles. 


Ptapet  tot  t be  SDap:  “  Hear  us,  O  never-failing  Light,  Lord  our  God, 
our  only  Light,  the  Fountain  of  light,  who  hast  created  the  light  of  thy 
saints.  May  our  souls  be  lamps  of  thine,  kindled  and  illuminated  by  thee. 
May  they  shine  and  burn  with  the  truth,  and  never  go  out  in  darkness  and 
ashes.  May  we  be  thy  house,  shining  from  thee,  shining  in  thee ;  may  we 
shine  and  fail  not;  may  we  ever  worship  thee;  in  thee  may  we  be  kindled, 
and  not  be  extinguished.  Being  filled  with  the  splendor  of  thy  Son  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  may  we  shine  forth  inwardly;  may  the  gloom  of  sins  be  cleared 
away,  and  the  light  of  perpetual  faith  abide  within  us.” — Mozarabic  Sac¬ 
ramentary. 


102 


ADORATION 


APRIL  13 

Si  m#ion  ot  t& t  St?o£t  WM 


tot  tf)C  “I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  all  flesh;  and 

your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy,  your  old  men  shall  dream 
dreams,  your  young  men  shall  see  visions.” — Joel  2.  28. 

Ht0$on  tot  tSeSDap:  Isaiah  6.  1—8. 

1  In  the  year  that  King  Uzziah  died  I  saw  the  Lord  sitting 
upon  a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up;  and  his  train  filled  the  temple. 
2  Above  him  stood  the  seraphim:  each  one  had  six  wings;  with 
twain  he  covered  his  face,  and  with  twain  he  covered  his  feet,  and 
with  twain  he  did  fly.  3  And  one  cried  unto  another,  and  said, 
Holy,  holy,  holy,  is  Jehovah  of  hosts:  the  whole  earth  is  full  of 
his  glory.  4  And  the  foundations  of  the  thresholds  shook  at  the 
voice  of  him  that  cried,  and  the  house  was  filled  with  smoke.  5 
Then  said  I,  Woe  is  me!  for  I  am  undone;  because  I  am  a  man  of 
unclean  lips,  and  I  dwell  in  the  midst  of  a  people  of  unclean  lips: 
for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King,  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

6  Then  flew  one  of  the  seraphim  unto  me,  having  a  live  coal 
in  his  hand,  which  he  had  taken  with  the  tongs  from  off  the  altar: 

7  and  he  touched  my  mouth  with  it,  and  said,  Lo,  this  hath  touched 
thy  lips;  and  thine  iniquity  is  taken  away,  and  thy  sin  forgiven. 

8  And  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying,  Whom  shall  I  send, 
and  who  will  go  for  us?  Then  I  said,  Here  am  I;  send  me. 

“O  human  soul!  as  long  as  thou  canst  so 
Set  up  a  mark  of  everlasting  light, 

Above  the  howling  senses’  ebb  and  flow, 

To  cheer  thee,  and  to  right  thee  if  thou  roam — 

Not  with  lost  toil  thou  laborest  through  the  night! 

Thou  mak’st  the  heaven  thou  hop’st  indeed  thy  home.” 

— Matthew  Arnold. 

“God  is  here,  above,  beneath,  around  us;  and  the  only  change  that  is  needed  to 
bring  us  to  the  beatific  vision  of  his  presence  is  the  quickening  and  clarifying  of  human 
souls.  The  eternal  world  embraces  time;  its  light  and  power  are  waiting  for  human 
souls  to  welcome  it,  ready  to  break  through  the  transparent  veil  of  earthly  things, 
and  to  suffuse  with  its  ineffable  radiance  the  common  life  of  man.”— John  Caird. 

y&Z&IPZt  (Ot  SDiipt  “We  worship  thee,  O  God,  as  the  greatest  and 
best  of  Beings,  the  perfection  of  all  excellence,  and  the  source  of  all  goodness. 
And  we  beseech  thee  to  manifest  thyself  to  us,  in  the  adorable  attributes  of 
thy  character,  and  in  the  exceeding  abundance  of  thy  tender  mercies,  so  that 
we  may  be  led  more  heartily  to  love  thee,  and  more  worthily  to  magnify  thy 
blessed  name.  Give  unto  us,  we  pray  thee,  visions  of  thy  holiness  that  we 
may  the  more  deeply  realize  our  shortcomings  and  our  unworthiness.  Cleanse 
our  iniquities  and  forgive  our  sins.  Pardon  all  the  defects  of  our  love  to 
thee,  and  all  the  excesses  of  our  love  to  earthly  things.  Give  to  us  clear  views 
of  thine  excellency;  impress  us  with  a  lively  sense  of  thy  goodness.  Above 
all,  teach  us  to  comprehend,  with  all  saints,  the  breadth,  and  length,  and 
depth,  and  height  of  thine  immeasurable  love  in  our  redemption.  Mercifully 
hear  us,  O  God,  and  accept  of  us,  for  the  Lord  Jesus’  sake.”  Amen. 

103 


ADORATION 


APRIL  14 

^ Itie  Character  of  (30b 


Pttgit  fOt  t{)£  2Da^J  “I  am  Jehovah  who  exerciseth  loving-kindness,  jus¬ 
tice,  and  righteousness,  in  the  earth:  for  in  these  things  1  delight.” — 
Jeremiah  9.  24. 

3l£S»£0nf0tt8e2Da£:  Psalm  145.  8,  9,  14-19. 

8  Jehovah  is  gracious,  and  merciful: 

Slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  loving-kindness. 

9  Jehovah  is  good  to  all; 

And  his  tender  mercies  are  over  all  his  works. 

•  •••••*«»«• 

14  Jehovah  upholdeth  all  that  fall, 

And  raiseth  up  all  those  that  are  bowed  down. 

15  The  eyes  of  all  wait  for  thee; 

And  thou  givest  them  their  food  in  due  season, 

16  Thou  openest  thy  hand, 

And  satisfiest  the  desire  of  every  living  thing. 

17  Jehovah  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways, 

And  gracious  in  all  his  works. 

18  Jehovah  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that  call  upon  him, 

To  all  that  call  upon  him  in  truth. 

19  He  will  fulfill  the  desire  of  them  that  fear  him; 

He  also  will  hear  their  cry  and  save  them. 

“The  greatness  of  God  is  the  true  rebuke  to  the  littleness  of  men.  The  great¬ 
ness  of  Christ  is  the  true  rebuke  to  the  littleness  of  Christians.” — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 

“For  the  love  of  God  is  broader 

Than  the  measure  of  man’s  mind; 

And  the  heart  of  the  Eternal 
Is  most  wonderfully  kind. 

If  our  love  were  but  more  simple, 

We  should  take  him  at  his  word, 

And  our  lives  would  be  all  sunshine 
In  the  sweetness  of  our  Lord.” 

■ — Frederick  W.  Faber. 

f 0£  tf)£  “O  God,  may  our  souls  be  warm  with  life.  Save 

us  from  an  inanimate  and  sluggish  state.  Teach  us  thy  purity;  how  great 
thy  abhorrence  of  evil,  how  irreconcilable  thy  hatred  of  it;  and  may  we  all 
partake  of  the  same  abhorrence  of  sin.  .  .  .  May  every  day  add  bright¬ 

ness  and  energy  to  our  conceptions  of  thy  lovely  and  glorious  character.  Give 
us  a  deeper  sense  of  thy  presence,  and  instruct  us  to  nourish  our  devotions 
by  every  scene  of  nature  and  every  event  of  Providence.  Assist  us  to  con¬ 
secrate  our  whole  being  and  existence  to  thee,  our  understandings  to  the 
knowledge  of  thy  character,  and  hearts  to  the  veneration  and  love  of  thy 
perfections,  our  wills  to  the  choice  of  thy  commands,  our  active  energies  to 
the  accomplishment  of  thy  purposes,  our  lives  to  thy  glory,  and  every  power 
to  the  imitation  of  thy  goodness.  Be  thou  the  center,  life  and  sovereign  of 
our  souls.”  Amen. — William  Ellery  Ghanning  (1780—1842). 

104 


ADORATION  APRIL  15 

USe  Immanent  (Bob 

IPetsSe  fot  tje  Dap:  “  For  in  him  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our 
being.” — Acts  17.  28. 

fot  tf)e2Da#:  Psalm  139.  7-12. 

7  Whither  shall  I  go  from  thy  Spirit? 

Or  whither  shall  I  flee  from  thy  presence? 

8  If  I  ascend  up  into  heaven,  thou  art  there : 

If  I  make  my  bed  in  Sheol,  behold,  thou  art  there. 

9  If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning, 

And  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea; 

10  Even  there  shall  thy  hand  lead  me, 

And  thy  right  hand  shall  hold  me. 

11  If  I  say,  Surely,  the  darkness  shall  overwhelm  me, 

And  the  light  about  me  shall  be  night; 

12  Even  the  darkness  hideth  not  from  thee. 

But  the  night  shineth  as  the  day: 

The  darkness  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to  thee. 


“The  unescapable  God!  We  often  speak  of  our  besetting  sins;  this  man  remem¬ 
bers  his  besetting  God.  The  word  which  he  uses  is  used  of  a  besieging  army;  so,  like 
a  beleaguered  city,  the  psalmist  sees  himself  hemmed  in  on  every  side  and  his  besieger 
is  God.  And,  be  it  noted,  it  is  this  thought  that  is  the  spring  of  all  the  psalmist’s  joy. 
What  the  all-encompassing  Presence  was  to  Brother  Lawrence  in  his  cell,  and  to  Gen¬ 
eral  Gordon  within  the  walls  of  Khartoum — ‘my  Koh-i-noor’ — so  is  it  to  him.  Whither 
shall  I  flee  from  thy  presence?  Go  where  he  may  he  cannot;  there  is  no  getting  away 
from  God.  And  that  is  the  psalmist’s  hope.” — Robertson  Nicoll. 


“I  can  never  be  alone  in  the  world,  for  the  world  itself  is  the  presence  of  God  to 
my  mind  and  heart.  Wherever  I  turn  my  feet,  wherever  I  turn  my  thought,  I  en¬ 
counter  the  besetting  God.  The  morning  comes.  He  floods  me  with  his  light;  in 
the  evening  the  heavens  are  all  eyes,  through  which  he  gazes  as  a  pitying  Father  on 
his  child.  Every  process  in  nature  is  the  going  forth  of  the  Everlasting  on  his  messages 
of  love,  and  every  event  in  my  experience  is  a  message  of  love  fulfilled  in  me.” — F. 


H.  Hedge. 


I ^ 


$ZH1PCZ  tot  tl)t  SDflgJ  “O  God,  who  dost  brood  over  thy  children  like 
some  loving  mother,  when  trust  dost  tremble  and  hope  is  small,  with  thy 
tender  hand  lead  us,  and  when  we  desire  to  know  thy  ways,  guide  us  as 
far  as  we  can  go,  teach  us  all  that  children  can  know.  If  we  had  thee  always 
near  then  would  the  troubles  of  this  world  bow  us  down  but  little.  Thou 
art  very  near,  but  open  our  eyes  that  we  may  behold  thee  in  thy  nearness. 
May  this  fair  world  ever  show  forth  its  mighty  Maker — may  all  things 
show  us  how  nigh  unto  God  we  are.  But  come  thou  very  near  that  we 
may  feel  thy  presence ;  be  so  close  that  evil  may  be  far  off.  Give  to  each 
of  us  a  loving  heart  and  a  lowly  spirit,  that  the  life  divine  may  be  even  now 
possessed,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — George  Dawson 
(b.  1861). 


105 


ADORATION 


APRIL  16 


flUmtogial  l&ule  ot  (Boh 

PtEgfc  (0t  tj)£  £Dtl#;  “O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  our  fathers,  art  not  thou 
God  in  heaven?  and  art  not  thou  ruler  over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
nations?” — 2  Chronicles  20.  6. 

for  tStSDap:  Isaiah  45.  18,  20-24. 

18  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  that  created  the  heavens,  the  God 
that  formed  the  earth  and  made  it,  that  established  it  and  created 
it  not  a  waste,  that  formed  it  to  be  inhabited:  I  am  Jehovah;  and 
there  is  none  else. 

20  Assemble  yourselves  and  come;  draw  near  together,  ye  that 
are  escaped  of  the  nations:  they  have  no  knowledge  that  carry 
the  wood  of  their  graven  image,  and  pray  unto  a  god  that  cannot 
save.  21  Declare  ye,  and  bring  it  forth;  yea,  let  them  take  counsel 
together:  who  hath  shown  this  from  ancient  time?  who  hath  de¬ 
clared  it  of  old?  have  not  I?  Jehovah,  and  there  is  no  God  else 
besides  me,  a  just  God  and  a  Saviour;  there  is  none  besides  me. 
22  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth;  for  I 
am  God,  and  there  is  none  else.  23  By  myself  have  I  sworn,  the 
word  is  gone  forth  from  my  mouth  in  righteousness,  and  shall  not 
return,  that  unto  me  every  knee  shall  bow,  every  tongue  shall  swear. 
24  Only  in  Jehovah,  it  is  said  of  me,  is  righteousness  and  strength; 
even  to  him  shall  men  come;  and  all  they  that  were  incensed  against 
him  shall  be  put  to  shame. 

“Yesterday,  to-day  and  forever  Jehovah’s  hand  is  upon  history.  He  controls 
it:  it  is  the  fulfillment  of  his  ancient  purpose.  He  is  surely  God,  and  God  alone.  This 
is  the  claim  of  the  prophet,  and  history  has  vindicated  it.” — George  Adam  Smith. 

“O  my  dear  friends,  it  is  a  terrible  thing  when  one’s  religion  is  too  small  for  the 
world,  and  is  always  leaving  great  parts  of  the  world’s  life  unaccounted  for,  unillumi¬ 
nated,  and  is  always  dreading  to  have  the  world  made  any  larger,  lest  this  religion 
shall  seem  even  more  meager  and  insufficient.  But  it  is  a  great  thing  when  the  world 
is  too  small  for  one’s  religion,  and  the  soul’s  sense  of  the  glory  and  dearness  of  God 
is  always  craving  larger  and  larger  regions  in  which  to  range.  Then  welcome  all  dis¬ 
coveries,  all  illuminations,  all  visions  of  the  greatness  of  the  world  of  God.” — Phillips 
Brooks. 

f0t  “Merciful  Father,  to  all  thy  dispensations  we  would 

submit  ourselves,  not  grudgingly,  not  merely  of  necessity,  but  because  we 
believe  in  thy  wisdom ,  thy  universal  rule,  and  thy  goodness.  In  bereavement 
and  in  sorrow,  in  death  as  in  life,  in  joys  and  in  happiness  we  would  see  thy 
band.  Teach  us  to  see  it;  increase  our  faith  when  we  cannot  see;  teach  us 
also  to  love  justice,  and  to  do  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thee,  our 
God.  Make  us  at  peace  with  all  mankind,  gentle  to  those  who  offend  us, 
faithful  in  all  duties,  and  sincere  in  sorrow  when  we  fail  in  duty.  Make 
us  loving  to  one  another,  patient  in  distress,  and  ever  thankful  to  thy  divine 
power  which  keeps,  and  guides,  and  blesses  us  every  day.  Lord,  accept  our 
humble  prayer;  accomplish  in  us  thy  holy  will.  Let  thy  peace  reign  in  our 
hearts  and  enable  us  to  walk  with  thee  in  love,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.”  Amen. — Francis  W.  Newman  (1805—1897). 

106 


ADORATION 


APRIL  17 

C3od  Our  Ifttftigc 


(or  tf)t  “The  eternal  God  is  thy  refuge,  and  underneath 

are  the  everlasting  arms.” — Deuteronomy  33.  27  (King  James  version). 

JLtg&otx  (or  tj)t£Dap:  Psalm  46.  1—3,  8— 11. 

1  God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 

A  very  present  help  in  trouble. 

2  Therefore  will  we  not  fear,  though  the  earth  do  change, 

And  though  the  mountains  be  shaken  into  the  heart  of  the 

seas ; 

3  Though  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be  troubled, 

Though  the  mountains  tremble  with  the  swelling  thereof. 

8  Come,  behold  the  works  of  Jehovah, 

What  desolations  he  hath  made  in  the  earth. 

9  He  maketh  wars  to  cease  unto  the  end  of  the  earth; 

He  breaketh  the  bow,  and  cutteth  the  spear  in  sunder; 

He  burneth  the  chariots  in  the  fire. 

10  Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God: 

I  will  be  exalted  among  the  nations,  I  will  be  exalted  in 
the  earth. 

11  Jehovah  of  hosts  is  with  us; 

The  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge. 

“0  God,  our  help  in  ages  past, 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come, 

Our  shelter  from  the  stormy  blast 
And  our  eternal  home! 

“Under  the  shadow  of  thy  throne 
Thy  saints  have  dwelt  secure; 

Sufficient  is  thine  arm  alone, 

And  our  defense  is  sure. 

# 

“O  God,  our  helT>  in  ages  past, 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come, 

Be  thou  our  guard  while  life  shall  last, 

And  our  eternal  home.” 

— Isaac  Watts. 

(Ot  “O  Lord  God,  thou  art  our  refuge  and  our  hope; 

on  thee  alone  we  rest;  for  we  find  all  to  be  weak  and  insufficient  but  thee. 
Many  friends  cannot  profit,  nor  strong  helpers  assist,  nor  prudent  counselors 
advise,  nor  the  books  of  the  learned  afford  comfort,  nor  any  precious  sub¬ 
stance  deliver,  nor  any  place  give  shelter,  unless  thou  thyself  doth  assist, 
strengthen,  console,  instruct,  and  guard  us.  To  thee,  therefore,  do  we  lift 
up  our  eyes;  in  thee,  our  God,  the  Father  of  mercies,  do  we  put  our  trust. 
Bless  and  sanctify  our  souls,  that  they  may  become  the  holy  habitation  and 
the  seat  of  thine  eternal  glory;  and  let  nothing  be  found  in  us  displeasing 
in  thy  sight.  Protect  and  keep  us  amid  all  dangers;  and,  accompany  us 
by  thy  grace,  direct  us  in  the  way  •of  service  to  thee  and  to  our  fellow  men 
to  the  end  of  our  day,  for  Jesus’  sake.”  Amen. 

107 


ADORATION 


APRIL  18 


^amtamtng  ^>pmt  of  ptaptt 

PtEgit  (Ot  t|)C  SDftJG  “But  we  will  continue  steadfastly  in  prayer,  and 
in  the  ministry  of  the  word.” — Acts  6.  4. 

JLt00on  for  tlje  $Dap:  Acts  i.  13,  14;  2.  46-47. 

13  And  when  they  were  come  in,  they  went  up  into  the  upper 
chamber,  where  they  were  abiding;  both  Peter  and  John  and  James 
and  Andrew,  Philip  and  Thomas,  Bartholomew  and  Matthew,  James 
the  son  of  Alphaeus,  and  Simon  the  Zealot,  and  Judas  the  son  of 
James.  14  These  all  with  one  accord  continued  steadfastly  in 
prayer,  with  the  women,  and  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and  with 
his  brethren. 

2.  46  And  day  by  day,  continuing  steadfastly  with  one  accord  in 
the  temple,  and  breaking  bread  at  home,  they  took  their  food  with 
gladness  and  singleness  of  heart,  47  praising  God,  and  having  favor 
with  all  the  people.  And  the  Lord  added  to  them  day  by  day 
those  that  were  saved. 


“Most  men  forget  God  all  day,  and  then  ask  him  to  remember  them  at  night.” 

“If  we  with  earnest  effort  could  succeed 

To  make  our  lives  one  long  connected  prayer, 

As  lives  of  some,  perhaps,  have  been  and  are; 

If,  never  leaving  thee,  we  had  no  need 
Our  wandering  spirits  back  again  to  lead 
Into  thy  presence,  but  continue  there 
Like  angels  standing  on  the  highest  stair 
Of  the  Sapphire  Throne — this  were  to  pray  indeed. 

“But  if  distractions  manifold  prevail, 

And  if  in  this  we  must  confess  we  fail, 

Grant  us  to  keep  at  least  a  prompt  desire, 

Continual  readiness  for  prayer  and  praise, 

An  altar  heaped  and  waiting  to  take  fire 

With  the  least  spark,  and  heap  into  a  blaze.” 

— Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 

fOt  tt)Z  SDilJH  “Ah,  Lord,  unto  whom  all  hearts  are  open,  thou 
canst  govern  the  vessel  of  our  souls  far  better  than  we  can.  Arise,  O  Lord, 
and  command  the  stormy  wind  and  the  troubled  sea  of  our  hearts  to  be 
still,  and  at  peace  in  thee,  that  we  may  look  up  to  thee  undisturbed,  and 
abide  in  union  with  thee,  our  Lord.  Let  us  not  be  carried  hither  and  thither 
by  wandering  thoughts,  but,  forgetting  all  else,  let  us  see  and  hear  thee. 
Renew  our  spirits;  kindle  in  us  thy  light,  that  it  may  shine  within  us,  and 
our  hearts  may  burn  in  love  and  adoration  toward  thee.  Let  thy  Holy 
Spirit  dwell  in  us  continually,  and  make  us  thy  temples  and  sanctuary,  and 
fill  us  with  Divine  love  and  light  and  life,  with  devout  and  heavenly  thoughts, 
with  comfort  and  strength,  with  joy  and  peace.”  Amen. — Johann  Arndt 
(1555-1621). 


108 


ADORATION 


APRIL  19 

<Wf}t  £ort>*£  Puppet 


\&ZX$t  tot  tl)t  “The  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is  it  not  a 

communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ?  The  bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not 
a  communion  of  the  body  of  Christ  ?” — 1  Corinthians  10.  16. 

UrdGon  tOt  tfjt  I  Corinthians  11.  23-29. 

23  For  I  received  of  the  Lord  that  which  also  I  delivered  unto 
you,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed 
took  bread;  24  and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said, 
This  is  my  body,  which  is  for  you:  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 
25  In  like  manner  also  the  cup,  after  supper,  saying,  This  cup  is 
the  new  covenant  in  my  blood:  this  do,  as  often  as  ye  drink  it,  in 
remembrance  of  me.  26  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  the  cup,  ye  proclaim  the  Lord’s  death  till  he  come.  27 
Wherefore  whosoever  shall  eat  the  bread  or  drink  the  cup  of  the 
Lord  in  an  unworthy  manner,  shall  be  guilty  of  the  body  and  the 
blood  of  the  Lord.  28  But  let  a  man  prove  himself,  and  so  let 
him  eat  of  the  bread,  and  drink  of  the  cup.  29  For  he  that  eateth 
and  drinketh,  eateth  and  drinketh  judgment  unto  himself,  if  he 
discern  not  the  body. 


“The  Holy  Supper  is  kept,  indeed, 

In  what  we  share  with  another’s  need; 

Not  what  we  give,  but  what  we  share. 

For  the  gift  without  the  giver  is  bare; 

Who  gives  himself  with  his  alms  feeds  three, 

Himself,  his  hungering  neighbor,  and  me.” 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 

“Let  us  come  to  holy  communion  in  charity  with  each  other  and  with  all;  determined 
henceforth  to  feel  for  each  other,  and  with  each  other;  to  put  ourselves  in  our  neighbors’ 
places;  to  see  with  their  eyes,  and  to  feel  with  their  hearts,  so  far  as  God  shall  give  us 
that  great  grace;  determined  to  make  allowances  for  their  mistakes  and  failings;  to  give 
and  forgive,  even  as  God  gives  and  forgives,  forever;  that  so  we  may  be  indeed  the 
children  of  our  Father  in  heaven,  whose  name  is  Love.” — Charles  Kingsley. 


y&ZtiyZZ  (Ot  tf)f  “Blessed  be  thy  name,  O  God  of  our  salvation, 

for  the  opportunity  thou  dost  give  us  from  time  to  time  of  observing  the 
holy  sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper.  Prepare  us,  we  beseech  thee,  for 
this  ordinance.  Inspire  us  with  ardent  love  to  the  Saviour.  Work  in  us 
unfeigned  sorrow  for  our  sins.  Give  us  sincere  and  humble  purposes  of  new 
obedience,  that  we  may  with  a  true  heart  devote  ourselves  to  his  service. 
And  enable  us,  when  we  partake  of  this  ordinance,  to  feed  by  faith  on  the 
blessings  represented  by  it,  so  as  to  promote  our  spiritual  nourishment  and 
growth  in  grace.  Help  us  to  walk  before  thee  in  the  land  of  the  living, 
seeking  our  rest  in  thee,  who  dealest  bountifully  with  us,  and  presenting  our 
bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  our  reason¬ 
able  service.  Enable  us  to  be  steadfast  and  immovable,  always  abounding 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord ;  that  when  our  course  in  this  life  is  ended,  we  may 
be  admitted  to  the  supper  of  the  Lamb,  and  may  sit  down  with  him  in  the 
kingdom  of  his  Father.  For  his  name’s  sake.”  Amen. 

109 


ADORATION 


APRIL  20 


<&tjc  Eobt  of  (3ob 

C?EE£»E  fot  t!)t  “Behold  what  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath  be¬ 

stowed  upon  us,  that  we  should  be  called  children  of  God.” — I  John  3.  1. 

Easton  fot  tfjcSDap:  I  John  4.  7— II. 

7  Beloved,  let  us  love  one  another:  for  love  is  of  God;  and 
every  one  that  loveth  is  begotten  of  God,  and  knoweth  God.  8  He 
that  loveth  not  knoweth  not  God;  for  God  is  love.  9  Herein  was 
the  love  of  God  manifested  in  us,  that  God  hath  sent  his  only  be¬ 
gotten  Son  into  the  world  that  we  might  live  through  him.  10  Here¬ 
in  is  love,  not  that  we  loved  God,  but  that  he  loved  us,  and  sent  his 
Son  to  he  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.  11  Beloved,  if  God  so 
loved  us,  we  also  ought  to  love  one  another. 


“God!  Thou  art  Love!  I  build  my  faith  on  that! 

I  know  thee,  thou  hast  kept  my  path  and  made 
Light  for  me  in  the  darkness — tempering  sorrow, 

So  that  it  reached  me  like  a  solemn  joy: 

It  were  too  strange  that  I  should  doubt  thy  love.” 

— Robert  Browning. 


“O  Love  divine,  that  stooped  to  share 
Our  sharpest  pang,  our  bitterest  tear 
On  thee  we  cast  each  earthborn  care, 

We  smile  at  pain  while  thou  art  near. 

“When  drooping  pleasure  turns  to  grief, 

And  trembling  faith  is  changed  to  fear, 

The  murmuring  wind,  the  quivering  leaf, 

Shall  softly  tell  us  thou  art  near. 

“On  thee  we  fling  our  burdening  woe, 

O  Love  divine,  forever  dear, 

Content  to  suffer,  while  we  know, 

Living  and  dying,  thou  art  near.” 

— Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 


PEfi^EE  fOE  tf)E  “Lord,  give  us  hearts  never  to  forget  thy  love;  but 

to  dwell  therein  whatever  we  do,  whether  we  sleep  or  wake,  live  or  die,  or 
rise  again  to  the  life  that  is  to  come.  For  thy  love  is  eternal  life  and  ever¬ 
lasting  rest;  for  this  is  life  eternal  to  know  thee  and  thy  infinite  goodness.  O 
let  its  flame  never  be  quenched  in  our  hearts;  let  it  grow  and  brighten,  till 
our  whole  souls  are  glowing  and  shining  with  its  light  and  warmth.  Be 
thou  our  Joy -and  Hope,  our  Strength  and  Life,  our  Shield  and  Shepherd, 
our  Portion  forever.  For  happy  are  we*if  we  continue  in  the  love  where¬ 
with  thou  hast  loved  us ;  holy  are  we  when  we  love  thee  steadfastly.  There¬ 
fore,  O  thou  whose  name  and  essence  is  love,  enkindle  our  hearts,  enlighten 
our  understandings,  sanctify  our  wills,  and  fill  all  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts; 
for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — Johann  Arndt  (1555-1621). 


HO 


ADORATION 


APRIL  2i 


pur po&t  ot  tfje  d5o£pel 

Wtz&t  tot  t!)e  $Dag:  “  For  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge 
of  the  glory  of  Jehovah,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.” — Habakkuk  2.  14. 

Hts rtfon  tot  tj)£  SDap;  Mark  4.  26-32. 

26  And  he  said,  So  is  the  kingdom  of  God,,  as  if  a  man  should 
cast  seed  upon  the  earth;  27  and  should  sleep  and  rise  night  and 
day,  and  the  seed  should  spring  up  and  grow,  he  knoweth  not  how. 
28  The  earth  beareth  fruit  of  herself;  first  the  blade,  then  the 
ear,  then  the  full  grain  in  the  ear.  29  But  when  the  fruit  is  ripe, 
straightway  he  putteth  forth  the  sickle,  because  the  harvest  is 
come.  30  And  he  said,  How  shall  we  liken  the  kingdom  of  God? 
or  in  what  parable  shall  we  set  it  forth?  31  It  is  like  a  grain  of 
mustard  seed,  which,  when  it  is  sown  upon  the  earth,  though  it 
be  less  than  all  the  seeds  that  are  upon  the  earth,  32  yet  when 
it  is  sown,  groweth  up,  and  becometh  greater  than  all  the  herbs, 
and  putteth  out  great  branches;  so  that  the  birds  of  the  heaven 
can  lodge  under  the  shadow  thereof. 

“It  is  a  very  significant  matter  in  my  mind,  that  the  gospel  came  into  the  world 
to  save  the  world  as  well  as  to  save  individual  souls.  There  is  one  sense  in  which  I 
have  never  had  very  much  interest  in  the  task  of  saving  individuals’  souls  by  merely 
advising  them  to  run  to  cover.  It  has  never  seemed  to  me  that  the  isolation  of  the 
human  soul,  its  preservation  from  contamination  such  as  the  Middle  Ages  attempted, 
or  any  modern  substitute  for  that,  was  graced  with  any  dignity  at  all.  If  men  cannot 
lift  their  fellow  men  in  the  process  of  saving  themselves,  I  do  not  see  that  it  is  very 
important  that  they  should  save  themselves,  because  they  reduce  Christianity  by  that 
means  to  the  essence  of  selfishness,  and  anything  that  is  touched  with  selfishness  is 
very  far  removed  from  the  spirit  of  Christianity.  Christianity  came  into  the  world 
to  save  the  world  as  well  as  to  save  individual  men,  and  individual  men  can  afford  in 
conscience  to  be  saved  only  as  part  of  the  process  by  which  the  world  itself  is  regener¬ 
ated.” — Woodrow  Wilson. 


“The  gospel  of  the  Kingdom  is  a  real  thing,  now  in  operation.  It  is  within  us, 
and  among  us,  gaining  ground  in  our  intellectual  life  and  in  our  social  institutions. 
It  overlaps  and  interpenetrates  all  existing  organizations,  raising  them  to  a  higher 
level  when  they  are  good,  resisting  them  when  they  are  evil,  quietly  revolutionizing 
the  old  social  order  and  changing  it  into  the  new.  It  suffers  terrible  reverses,  but  it 
is  never  defeated.  The  kingdom  of  God  is  always  coming.” — Walter  Rauschenbusch. 

Ptapet  (ot  tfjt  £>ap;  “  O  God  who  hast  made  of  one  blood  all  nations 
of  men  for  to  dwell  on  the  face  of  the  whole  earth,  and  didst  send  thy 
blessed  Son  to  preach  peace  to  them  that  are  far  off  and  to  them  that  are 
nigh:  grant  that  all  men  everywhere  may  seek  after  thee  and  find  thee.  We 
thank  thee  that  thy  gracious  purpose  of  the  salvation  of  all  peoples  is  being 
fulfilled.  Thy  gospel  is  being  preached  throughout  the  whole  earth.  Thy 
servants  are  going  forth,  even  as  thy  Son,  our  Saviour,  who  didst  com¬ 
mand  thy  disciples  to  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  forth  laborers 
into  his  harvest.  We  beseech  thee  graciously  to  increase  the  number  of 
faithful  ministers  and  teachers  of  thy  Word  and  to  send  them  forth  into 
all  parts  of  the  earth  that  souls  everywhere  may  be  saved  and  thy  kingdom 
may  come  among  all  men.  For  thy  name’s  sake.”  Amen. 


ill 


ADORATION 


APRIL  22 


<3Duz  % Time  C5tben  to  (Bob 

(0t  “Every  day  will  I  bless  thee; 

And  I  will  praise  thy  name  forever  and  ever.” 

— Psaltn  145.  2. 

1Lt$$on  Cot  t$c  2Dap:  1  Timothy  4.  10—16. 

10  For  to  this  end  we  labor  and  strive,  because  we  have  our  hope 
set  on  the  living  God,  who  is  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  especially  of 
them  that  believe.  11  These  things  command  and  teach.  12  Let  no 
man  despise  thy  youth;  but  be  thou  an  ensample  to  them  that  believe, 
in  word,  in  manner  of  life,  in  love,  in  faith,  in  purity.  13  Till  I 
come,  give  heed  to  reading,  to  exhortation,  to  teaching.  14  Neglect 
not  the  gift  that  is  in  thee,  which  was  given  thee  by  prophecy, 
with  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  presbytery.  15  Be  diligent 
in  these  things;  give  thyself  wholly  to  them;  that  thy  progress  may 
be  manifest  unto  all.  16  Take  heed  to  thyself,  and  to  thy  teaching. 
Continue  in  these  things;  for  in  doing  this  thou  shalt  save  both 
thyself  and  them  that  hear  thee. 


“So  many  golden  hours  in  each  bright  day, 

This  one  for  work  of  hands,  and  this  for  play; 

And  this  to  spend  with  those  who  lived  and  writ 
Of  life — its  love  and  pain,  and  all  of  it. 

One  to  recall  the  songs  that  make  us  glad; 

One  for  a  pitying  thought  for  all  who’re  sad; 

_  An  hour  to  minister,  an  hour  to  pray — 

And  all  my  golden  hours  are  God’s,  this  day.” 

— Edith  A.  Talbot. 


PtaptE  fOt  t|)C  “Almighty  God,  who  in  thy  wise  counsels  hast 

ordered  all  the  circumstances  of  our  lot,  and  determined  the  bounds  of  our 
habitation,  help  us  to  occupy  contentedly  and  faithfully  the  station  which  thy 
providence  hath  assigned  to  us.  Fit  us  for  the  discharge  of  its  duties. 
Strengthen  us  for  the  endurance  of  its  trials.  Guard  us  against  its  dangers 
and  temptations.  Dispose  us  to  improve  the  opportunities  which  it  affords 
us  of  glorifying  thee,  and  of  doing  good  to  our  fellow  men.  Suffer  11s  not 
to  walk  disorderly,  neglecting  our  own  proper  calling,  and  busying  ourselves 
in  other  men’s  matters.  But  grant  that  it  may  be  our  study,  at  all  times, 
to  be  quiet,  and  to  do  our  own  business,  and  to  work  with  our  own  hands, 
as  thou  hast  appointed  us.  And  enable  us  to  render  unto  all  their  dues;  fear 
to  whom  fear,  honor  to  whom  honor,  tribute  to  whom  tribute,  service  to 
whom  service  is  due;  exercising  ourselves  to  have  always  a  conscience  void 
of  offense  toward  God  and  toward  men.  Graciously  hear  us,  O  God,  and 
have  mercy  on  us,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour.”  Amen. — Family 
Prayers ,  Church  of  Scotland ,  1870. 


1 12 


ADORATION 


APRIL  23 

Cfjttet  tlje  Etgfit  ot  tijc  ClOorlti 


tot  tfje  2E>a^:  “I  am  the  light  of  the  world.”— John  9.  5. 
iles^onfottjje&a#:  John  12.  44-50. 

44  And  Jesus  cried  and  said,  He  that  believeth  on  me,  believeth 
not  on  me,  but  on  him  that  sent  me.  45  And  he  that  beholdeth 
me  beholdeth  him  that  sent  me.  46  I  am  come  a  light  into  the 
world,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  me  may  not  abide  in  the  dark¬ 
ness.  47  And  if  any  man  hear  my  sayings,  and  keep  them  not,  I 
judge  him  not:  for  I  came  not  to  judge  the  world,  but  to  save  the 
world.  48  He  that  rejecteth  me,  and  receiveth  not  my  sayings,  hath 
one  that  judgeth  him:  the  word  that  I  spake,  the  same  shall  judge 
him  in  the  last  day.  49  For  I  spake  not  from  myself;  but  the 
Father  that  sent  me,  he  hath  given  me  a  commandment,  what  I 
should  say,  and  what  I  should  speak.  50  And  I  know  that  his  com¬ 
mandment  is  life  eternal;  the  things  therefore  which  I  speak,  even 
as  the  Father  hath  said  unto  me,  so  I  speak. 


“Jesus,  thou  joy  of  loving  hearts, 

Thou  Fount  of  Life,  thou  Light  of  men: 

From  the  best  bliss  that  earth  imparts 
We  turn  unfilled  to  thee  again. 

“O  Jesus,  ever  with  us  stay, 

Make  all  our  moments  calm  and  bright; 

Chase  the  dark  night  of  sin  away, 

Shed  o’er  the  world  thy  holy  light.” 

— Bernard  of  Clairvaux. 


“The  light  which  Christ  brought  to  the  world  was  the  light  ‘of  life.’  He  distin¬ 
guishes  the  real  and  eternal  good  he  bestows  from  the  figure.  It  is  on  the  true,  eternal 
life  of  man  that  he  sheds  light.” — Marcus  Dods. 


f0t  tfjC  O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  art  the  true  Light  that 

lighteneth  every  one  that  cometh  into  the  world,  shine,  we  pray  thee,  into 
our  hearts  that  all  the  darkness  of  evil  and  of  error  being  driven  away, 
we  may  see  clearly  the  way  of  thy  commandments  and  humbly  and  gladly 
walk  therein  to  the  avoidance  of  all  evil  and  to  the  performance  of  all  good 
and  useful  works.  Enlighten  our  minds  by  thy  word.  Enable  us  to  receive 
it  with  simplicity  and  with  sincerity  of  heart  and  to  keep  it  whole  and  unde- 
filed.  Purify  our  affections  that  we  may  daily  refuse  the  evil  and  choose 
the  good,  and  give  us  strength  and  knowledge  that  through  obedience  to  thy 
commandments  we  may  attain  unto  everlasting  life.  O  thou  Light  of  the 
world,  grant  unto  us,  thy  followers,  the  light  of  life.  Have  mercy  upon 
us  and  hear  our  prayer  for  thy  name’s  sake.  Amen. 


ADORATION 


APRIL  24 

Cljttet  t fie  Bteats  of 


$££#£  fot  tfje  2Da^t  “Jesus  said  unto  them,  I  am  the  bread  of  life:  he 
that  cometh  to  me  shall  not  hunger,  and  he  that  believeth  on  me  shall 
never  thirst.” — John  6.  35* 

tot  tJtSDa^:  John  6.  47-51,  57,  58. 

47  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  believeth  hath  eternal 
life.  48  I  am  the  bread  of  life.  49  Your  fathers  ate  the  manna 
in  the  wilderness,  and  they  died.  50  This  is  the  bread  which  cometh 
down  out  of  heaven,  that  a  man  may  eat  thereof,  and  not  die.  51  I 
am  the  living  bread  which  came  down  out  of  heaven:  if  any  man 
eat  of  this  bread,  he  shall  live  forever:  yea  and  the  bread  which  I 
will  give  is  my  flesh,  for  the  life  of  the  world. 

57  As  the  living  Father  sent  me,  and  I  live  because  of  the 
Father;  so  he  that  eateth  me,  he  also  shall  live  because  of  me.  58 
This  is  the  bread  which  came  down  out  of  heaven:  not  as  the 
fathers  ate,  and  died:  he  that  eateth  this  bread  shall  live  forever. 

“’Twas  August,  and  the  fierce  sun  overhead 

Smote  on  the  squalid  streets  of  Bethnal  Green, 

And  the  pale  weaver  through  his  windows  seen 
In  Spitalfields,  looked  thrice  dispirited. 

“I  met  a  preacher  there  I  knew,  and  said: 

‘Ill  and  o’er  worked,  how  fare  you  in  this  scene?’ 

‘Bravely,’  said  he,  ‘for  I  of  late  have  been 
Much  cheered  with  thoughts  of  Christ,  the  Living  Bread.’ 

“O  human  soul!  as  long  as  thou  canst  so 
Set  up  a  mark  of  everlasting  light 
Above  the  howling  senses  ebb  and  flow 
To  cheer  thee,  and  to  right  thee  if  thou  roam — 

Not  with  lost  toil  thou  laborest  through  the  night! 

Thou  makest  the  heaven  thou  hop’st  indeed  thy  home.” 

— Matthew  Arnold. 

“A  man  who  abides  in  the  presence  of  Jesus  Christ  in  some  mystical  way  appro¬ 
priates  unconsciously  and  unavoidably,  the  life  and  character  of  Christ,  so  that  he 
is  built  up  like  him.  That  is  the  whole  process.  It  is  perfectly  simple  and  perfectly 
natural.  .  .  .  Now  the  great  question  which  we  must  ask  ourselves  is  this,  Have 
we  ourselves,  at  first  hand,  learned  to  draw  our  nourishment  and  strength  from  Christ? 
Is  he  the  heart  and  kernel  and  spring  of  your  life,  or  is  he  not?  If  he  is,  you  need  noth¬ 
ing  else,  for  he  is  the  ‘Bread  of  life.’  ” — Henry  Drummond. 

Pt fOt  ffjC  SDft£?  “O  God,  our  Father,  though  we  cannot  under¬ 
stand  the  deep  mysteries  of  Christ,  suffer  not  the  dullness  of  our  spirits  to 
blind  us  to  the  vision  of  his  grace.  Help  us  in  childlike  humility  and  trust  to 
take  our  Lord’s  words  and  receive  his  teaching.  Then  grant  us  the  ex¬ 
perience  which  interprets  thy  secrets.  Show  us  how  Christ  is  indeed  the 
Bread  of  Life  by  leading  us  to  feed  bn  him.  We  would  believe  in  him, 
that  his  eternal  life  might  be  ours.  Help  thou  our  unbelief;  strengthen  our 
grasp  of  the  unseen;  bring  us  into  living  union  with  Christ.  Grant  this  great 
blessing  to  us  because  we  ask  it  in  the  great  name  of  Christ.”  Amen. 

1 14 


ADORATION 


APRIL  25 

Character  of  Christ 


lot;  tfjc  Dap:  “  Never  man  so  spake.” — John  7.  46. 

KfiSgon  (or  tljeDag:  Isaiah  n.  1-5. 

i  And  there  shall  come  forth  a  shoot  out  of  the  stock  of  Jesse, 
and  a  branch  out  of  his  roots  shall  bear  fruit.  2  And  the  Spirit  of 
Jehovah  shall  rest  upon  him,  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  understand¬ 
ing,  the  spirit  of  counsel  and  might,  the  spirit  of  knowledge  and 
of  the  fear  of  Jehovah.  3  And  his  delight  shall  be  in  the  fear  of 
Jehovah;  and  he  shall  not  judge  after  the  sight  of  his  eyes,  neither 
decide  after  the  hearing  of  his  ears;  4  but  with  righteousness  shall 
he  judge  the  poor,  and  decide  with  equity  for  the  meek  of  the 
earth;  and  he  shall  smite  the  earth  with  the  rod  of  his  mouth; 
and  with  the  breath  of  his  lips  shall  he  slay  the  wicked.  5  And 
righteousness  shall  be  the  girdle  of  his  waist,  and  faithfulness  the 
girdle  of  his  loins. 


“The  life  and  character  of  Jesus  are  the  sufficient  attestation  of  his  profession 
when  he  says,  ‘I  am  from  above.’  Unfolding  as  a  flower  from  the  germ  of  perfect  youth, 
growing  up  to  enter  into  great  scenes  and  have  part  in  great  trials,  harmonious  in  all 
with  himself,  he  is  a  Lamb  in  innocence,  a  God  in  dignity.  He  advances  the  most 
extravagant  pretensions  without  show  of  conceit  or  fault  of  modesty.  He  suffers, 
giving  an  example  of  gentleness  and  patience.  He  undertakes  a  plan,  universal  in 
extent,  perpetual  in  time,  to  unite  all  nations  in  a  kingdom  of  righteousness,  laying  his 
foundations  in  the  hearts  of  the  poor,  as  no  teacher  had  ever  done  before.  In  his  teaching 
he  is  perfectly  original,  distinct  from  his  age  and  from  all  ages;  never  warped  by  the 
expectation  of  his  friends;  always  in  a  balance  of  truth,  running  to  no  extremes,  clear 
of  superstition,  and  equally  of  liberalism;  presenting  high  doctrines  in  low  and  simple 
forms,  establishing  a  pure,  universal  morality,  never  before  established;  with  intense 
devotion  to  truth,  never  anxious,  perceptibly,  for  the  success  of  his  doctrine;  finally, 
he  grows  more  great,  and  wise,  and  sacred,  the  more  he  is  known.  This  is  Jesus,  the 
Christ.” — Horace  Bushnell. 

fot  tfjt  SDa#;  “O  thou  who  hast  illumined  the  face  of  thy  Christ, 
illumine  our  hearts  to  see  it.  In  vain  shall  he  come  to  Galilee  if  he  does 
not  come  to  our  souls !  How  shall  we  see  him  as  he  is  if  we  are  not  like 
him?  How  shall  his  treasures  be  borne  into  our  spirits  if  there  is  no  bridge 
of  sympathy  between  him  and  us?  Build  that  bridge,  O  Lord!  We  cannot 
read  the  expression  of  love  on  a  face  except  there  be  love  within  us.  Put 
love  within  us,  O  our  Father!  Neither  sunlight  nor  moonlight  nor  starlight 
can  reveal  to  us  the  portrait  of  thy  Christ ;  only  heart-light  can.  Shine  in 
our  hearts,  that  we  may  see  its  glory!  Let  us  feel  beforehand  that  the 
Christ-life  is  the  heroic  life !  Inspire  us  with  the  ideal  ere  we  meet  the 
reality!  Kindle  us  with  the  love  of  kindness!  Stir  us  with  the  admiration 
of  sympathy.  Haunt  us  with  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Teach  us  the  power 
of  peace-making,  the  strength  of  sacrifice,  the  bravery  of  bending,  the  cour¬ 
age  of  cross-bearing,  the  devotedness  of  self-denial,  the  heroism  of  a  chosen 
humility.  Then  shall  the  threshold  of  our  hearts  be  lighted  for  the  Master’s 
coming,  and  by  that  light  on  the  threshold  we  shall  meet  him  at  the  door; 
and  at  the  very  first  sight  of  his  kindred  countenance  we  shall  have  knowl¬ 
edge  of  his  glory.”  Amen. — George  Matheson  (1842-1906). 

115 


ADORATION 


APRIL  26 


Zlljt  SDibtne  ^>etbant 

I?EE0E  t0E  £Dil£?  “In  all  their  affliction  he  was  afflicted,  and  the 
angel  of  his  presence  saved  them :  in  his  love  and  in  his  pity  he  redeemed 
them;  and  he  bare  them,  and  carried  them  all  the  days  of  old.” — Isaiah 
63.  9- 

1Lt&#on  for  Isaiah  42.  1—7. 

1  Behold,  my  servant,  whom  I  uphold;  my  chosen,  in  whom 
my  soul  delighteth:  I  have  put  my  Spirit  upon  him;  he  will  bring 
forth  justice  to  the  Gentiles.  2  He  will  not  cry,  nor  lift  up  his 
voice,  nor  cause  it  to  be  heard  in  the  street.  3  A  bruised  reed 
will  he  not  break,  and  a  dimly  burning  wick  will  he  not  quench: 
he  will  bring  forth  justice  in  truth.  4  He  will  not  fail  nor  be  dis¬ 
couraged  till  he  have  set  justice  in  the  earth  and  the  isles  shall 
wait  for  his  law. 

5  Thus  saith  God  Jehovah,  he  that  created  the  heavens,  and 
stretched  them  forth ;  he  that  spread  abroad  the  earth  and  that 
which  cometh  out  of  it;  he  that  giveth  breath  unto  the  people  upon 
it,  and  spirit  to  them  that  walk  therein:  6  I,  Jehovah,  have  called 
thee  in  righteousness,  and  will  hold  thy  hand,  and  will  keep  thee, 
and  give  thee  for  a  covenant  of  the  people,  for  a  light  of  the 
Gentiles;  7  to  open  the  blind  eyes,  to  bring  out  the  prisoners  from 
the  dungeon,  and  them  that  sit  in  darkness  out  of  the  prison-house. 

“In  history  Jesus  Christ  has  fulfilled  this  commission  both  in  its  national  and  in 
its  personal  aspects.  But  having  illustrated  the  service  of  God  in  the  world,  Christ  did 
not  exhaust  it.  He  returned  it  to  his  people,  and  he  also  gave  them  grace  to  fulfill  its 
demands.  That  Israel  refused  God’s  service  or  failed  in  it  only  leaves  it  more  clearly 
to  us  as  duty;  that  Jesus  fulfilled  it  not  only  confirms  that  duty  but  adds  hope  and 
courage  to  discharge  it.  Although  the  terms  of  this  service  were  published  nearly  two 
thousand  five  hundred  years  ago  they  are  so  adapted  to  the  lasting  needs  of  humanity, 
they  are  so  universal  in  their  scope,  that  they  come  home  to  heart  and  conscience  to-day 
with  as  much  tenderness  and  authority  as  ever.  This,  then,  is  the  burden  of  the  work 
- — to  pervade  and  instruct  every  nation’s  life  on  earth  with  the  righteousness  and  piety 
that  are  ordained  of  God,  till  in  every  nation  justice,  humanity,  and  worship  are  estab¬ 
lished  as  the  law  of  God.’’ — George  Adam  Smith. 

Pt&ptE  f0E  tf)t  t  We  give  thee  glory  and  praise,  O  God,  for  the 
gift  of  thy  Son,  thy  Servant,  thy  Chosen,  the  tender  and  pitiful,  the  suffer¬ 
ing  and  patient  Saviour.  May  his  Spirit  be  manifest  in  all  his  disciples, 
making  us  true  lovers  of  our  fellow  men.  May  we  take  upon  us  some  share 
of  his  burden,  that  we  may  do  our  part  in  bringing  forth  justice  in  the  earth. 
In  the  daily  warfare  we  will  not  fear,  knowing  that  One  is  with  us  who 
empowers  the  weak,  whose  word  revives  the  timid  and  faint-hearted.  May 
we  not  be  discouraged  by  the  slow  progress  of  thy  truth,  or  by  our  own  in¬ 
ability  to  forward  its  cause,  remembering  that  a  bruised  reed  will  he  not 
break,  and  a  dimly  burning  wick  will  he  not  quench.  Strengthen  our  hearts. 
Send  forth  thy  light  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.  Open  the  blind  eyes,  bring 
forth  the  prisoners  from  the  dungeon,  and  them  that  sit  in  darkness  out  of 
the  prison-house.  Give  unto  thy  divine  Servant  to  see  of  the  travail  of  his 
soul  and  to  be  satisfied  in  that  the  nations  are  turning  unto  thee.  Fulfill 
to  us  this  day  the  promises  of  thy  grace  in  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 

116 


ADORATION  APRIL  27 

Contemplation  ot  tljt  2U(t  anti  Character  of  CSritft 

Petite  fOt  tf)t  SDft£?  “.  .  .  Consider  the  Apostle  and  High  Priest 

of  our  confession,  even  Jesus.” — Hebrews  3.  1. 

1Lt$0on  for  tijeSDap:  Hebrews  I.  1—4. 

1  God,  having  of  old  time  spoken  unto  the  fathers  in  the 
prophets  by  divers  portions  and  in  divers  manners,  2  hath  at  the 
end  of  these  days  spoken  unto  us  in  his  Son,  whom  he  appointed 
heir  of  all  things,  through  whom  also  he  made  the  worlds ;  3  who 
being  the  effulgence  of  his  glory,  and  the  very  image  of  his  sub¬ 
stance,  and  upholding  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power,  when 
he  had  made  purification  of  sins,  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  Majesty  on  high;  4  having  become  by  so  much  better  than  the 
angels,  as  he  hath  inherited  a  more  excellent  name  than  they. 


“When  I  read  again  the  story  of  his  life  and  contemplate  his  teachings,  it  is  as 
though  I  were  lifted  from  the  valley  to  the  broad  tableland,  and  from  thence  to  suc¬ 
cessive  mountain  heights,  until  I  stand  at  last  upon  the  highest  peak  above  the  clouds, 
where  all  is  clear  and  radiant  with  sunlight;  and  it  has  been  during  these  mountaintop 
experiences  that  I  have  seemed  to  behold  his  face  and  have  attempted  to  paint  his  like¬ 
ness.” — Ernest  T.  Hofmann. 


“If  we  would  learn  perfect  goodness,  if  we  wish  to  warm  our  hearts  with  the  love 
of  it,  we  can  adopt  no  method  so  excellent  as  the  study,  the  contemplation,  of  the  life 
of  Jesus.  He  is  the  perfect  man,  a  miracle  more  striking  than  the  most  stupendous 
work  of  a  physical  nature,  a  character  such  as  the  evangelists  could  never  have  feigned, 
such  as  impostors  would  never  have  imagined.  Never  do  I  feel  how  lovely  is  virtue, 
never  do  I  so  earnestly  desire  to  subdue  my  passions  and  put  on  humility  and  universal 
love,  as  when  I  behold  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face,  in  the  actions,  in  the  words  of  Jesus 
Christ.” — William  Ellery  Channing. 


(Ot  tf)C  UDajN  O  God  our  Father,  we  give  thanks  to  thee  for  our 
Lord  and  Saviour.  We  thank  thee  for  his  incarnation,  and  death :  especially 
for  his  human  life  and  experiences;  his  growth  in  wisdom  and  in  knowledge, 
and  in  favor  both  with  God  and  man ;  his  endurance  of  temptation  and  his 
victory  over  the  tempter;  his  daily  duty  and  holy  fidelity;  his  nightly  prayers 
and  unresting  benevolence;  his  craving  for  human  sympathy  in  his  Passion; 
his  prayer  that  if  possible  his  cup  might  pass ;  his  breaking  down  under  his 
cross;  his  cry  of  desolation  upon  the  cross.  For  all  that  made  him  a  man 
of  sorrows;  that  perfected  his  sympathy  with  us  in  our  sorrows;  we  thank 
thee  as.  for  the  triumph  of  his  death,  the  victory  of  his  resurrection,  the  glory 
of  his  ascension,  and  for  the  gift  to  him  of  all  power  in  heaven  and  on 
earth  so  that  we  may  triumph  through  his  strength  and  partake  of  his  fullness. 
Aid  us  that  we  may  hold  our  Master  ever  in  remembrance ;  that  we  may 
meditate  often  on  his  life,  his  death,  his  glorious  character,  that  we  may 
so  contempate  him  in  his  power,  his  majesty  and  his  glory,  that  we  may 
triumph  through  his  strength  and  partake  of  his  fullness.  We  ask  it  for 
his  name’s  sake.  Amen. 


11 7 


ADORATION 


APRIL  28 


Communing:  ftOitf)  Cljttet 

(Ot  tl)t  SDftgl  “Our  fellowship  is  with  the  Father,  and  with  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ.” — 1  Jolm  I.  3. 

2U££on  (or  tf)e  2Dap:  Luke  24.  13-15,  29-32. 

13  And  behold,  two  of  them  were  going  that  very  day  to  a 
village  named  Emmaus,  which  was  threescore  furlongs  from  Jeru¬ 
salem.  14  And  they  communed  with  each  other  of  all  these  things 
which  had  happened.  15  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  they  com¬ 
muned  and  questioned  together,  that  Jesus  himself  drew  near, 
and  went  with  them.  29  And  they  constrained  him,  saying,  Abide 
with  us;  for  it  is  toward  evening,  and  the  day  is  now  far  spent. 
And  he  went  in  to  abide  with  them.  30  And  it  came  to  pass,  when 
he  had  sat  down  with  them  to  meat,  he  took  the  bread  and  blessed; 
and  breaking  it  he  gave  to  them.  31  And  their  eyes  were  opened, 
and  they  knew  him;  and  he  vanished  out  of  their  sight.  32  And 
they  said  one  to  another,  Was  not  our  heart  burning  within  us, 
while  he  spake  to  us  in  the  way,  while  he  opened  to  us  the 
scriptures? 


“Leave  us  not;  when  have  we  heard  a  voice 
Like  thine?  Our  hearts  burn  in  us  as  we  go. 

Stay  with  us;  break  our  bread;  so,  for  our  part, 

Ere  darkness  falls,  haply  we  may  rejoice, 

Haply  when  day  has  been  far  spent  may  know.” 

— Edward  Dowden . 

“The  spirit  that  was  in  Christ,  and  that  made  all  his  human  life  resplendent  with 
the  glory  and  beauty  of  the  eternal  light  and  love,  has  not  passed  away.  Christ  is  near 
us  here  and  now,  the  light  of  all  our  seeing,  the  ever-present  inexhaustible  fountain  of 
spiritual  life  and  strength.  If  we  do  not  realize  his  presence  the  hindrance  is  not  in 
him,  but  in  ourselves.  The  eye  of  the  soul  may  be  darkened  to  the  heavenly  light,  the 
ear  dulled  or  deadened  by  the  tumult  of  earthly  passions  to  the  heavenly  voice.  But 
he  is  never  far  from  any  one  of  us,  the  divine  element  of  his  presence  surrounds  us, 
even  when  in  our  hardness  and  coldness  we  know  and  think  not  of  it,  like  light  rippling 
round  blind  eyes,  or  sweet  music  seeking  entrance  into  deaf  ears;  and  nothing  but  our 
own  moral  opacity  and  dullness  hinders  it  from  penetrating  and  suffusing  our  souls.” — 
John  Caird. 

(Ot  tf)C  “Come  thou,  O  blessed  Christ,  and  abide  with  us. 

Sit  down  with  us  to  meat.  Bless  our  bread  and  make  our  hearts  to  burn 
within  us  as  thou  dost  speak  to  us,  opening  to  us  thy  truth  and  teaching  us 
of  thy  way.  Be  thou  our  Counselor.  Teach  us  how  to  be  gentle  one  to 
another,  how  to  prefer  each  other  in  honor,  how  to  seek  the  things  that 
belong  to  others’  welfare  and  not  our  own  alone.  Teach  us  to  be  valiant 
for  the  defense  of  all  things  right,  and  may  we  know  how  to  carry  our  rights 
in  the  spirit  of  love,  and  to  use  them  for  the  benefit  of  others.  Remember 
especially  the  poor,  the  outcast,  the  uneducated  child  of  neglect,  and  so  of 
vice  and  of  crime.  Oh  grant  that  all  classes  and  conditions  of  men  may  come 
up  in  remembrance  before  thee.  Bless  all  those  agencies  that  exist  for  the 
uplift  and  improvement  of  mankind,  and  may  thy  kingdom  come,  thy  will 
be  done  in  all  the  earth.”  Amen. 


1 18 


CONSECRATION  APRIL  29 

* 

SDefcuratton  of  to  C5oti 


H?EE£t  t0E  tf)E  “Who  then  offereth  willingly  to  consecrate  him¬ 

self  this  day  unto  Jehovah?” — 1  Chronicles  29.  5. 

%t$$on  tot  tijeSDap:  I  Chronicles  29.  10— 14,  18,  19. 

10  Wherefore  David  blessed  Jehovah  before  all  the  assembly; 
and  David  said,  Blessed  be  thou,  O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel  our 
father,  for  ever  and  ever,  n  Thine,  O  Jehovah,  is  the  greatness, 
and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  and  the  victory,  and  the  majesty: 
for  all  that  is  in  the  heavens  and  in  the  earth  is  thine;  thine  is  the 
kingdom,  O  Jehovah,  and  thou  art  exalted  as  head  above  all.  12 
Both  riches  and  honor  come  of  thee,  and  thou  rulest  over  all;  and 
in  thy  hand  is  power  and  might;  and  in  thy  hand  it  is  to  make 
great,  and  to  give  strength  unto  all.  13  Now  therefore,  our  God, 
we  thank  thee,  and  praise  thy  glorious  name.  14  But  who  am  I, 
and  what  is  my  people,  that  we  should  be  able  to  offer  so  willingly 
after  this  sort?  for  all  things  come  of  thee,  and  of  thine  own 
have  we  given  thee.  18  O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Abraham,  of  Isaac, 
and  of  Israel,  our  fathers,  keep  this  forever  in  the  imagination  of 
the  thoughts  of  the  heart  of  thy  people,  and  prepare  their  heart 
unto  thee;  19  and  give  unto  Solomon  my  son  a  perfect  heart,  to 
keep  thy  commandments,  thy  testimonies,  and  thy  statutes,  and  to 
do  all  these  things,  and  to  build  the  palace,  for  which  I  have  made 
provision. 


“On  January  12,  1723,  I  made  a  dedication  of  myself  to  God,  and  wrote  it  down, 
giving  up  myself  and  all  I  had  to  God;  to  be  for  the  future  in  no  respect  my  own.  I 
solemnly  vowed  to  take  God  for  my  whole  portion  and  felicity,  and  his  law  for  the  con¬ 
stant  rule  of  my  obedience,  engaging  to  fight  with  all  my  might  against  the  world,  the 
flesh,  and  the  devil,  to  the  end  of  my  life.  I  frequently  used  to  retire  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson  river,  at  some  distance  from  the  city  [New  York]  for  contemplation  on 
divine  things  and  secret  converse  with  God,  and  had  many  sweet  hours  there/’ — Jona¬ 
than  Edwards. 


“Teach  me  to  do  the  thing  that  pleaseth  thee; 

Thou  art  my  God,  in  thee  I  live  and  move; 

Oh,  let  thy  loving  Spirit  lead  me  forth 
Into  the  land  of  righteousness  and  love.” 

— J .  B.  S.  Monsell. 


(OE  “Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  art  the  ineffable  joy  of 

Christians,  of  whose  power  and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end,  make  us  to 
receive  and  to  possess  thy  kingdom,  that  thou  mayest  ever  rule  within  us. 
Take  away  from  us  whatever  is  not  thine,  and  make  us  thine  in  all  things, 
that  nothing  in  us  may  oppose  thy  power,  or  resist  thy  peace,  but  thou  alone 
mayest  possess  us  who  livest  and  reignest,  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords, 
now  and  throughout  all  ages.”  Amen. — Mozarahic  Breviary. 


CONSECRATION  APRIL  30 

Gibing;  to  tfic  (Blot?  of  (Bob 

lUftjSrf  fOt  tl)t  2Da£t  “Whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.” 
—  1  Corinthians  10.  31. 

ftt$$on  fot  Ephesians  3.  14—19. 

•w 

14  For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father,  15  from 
whom  every  family  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is  named,  16  that  he 
would  grant  you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  that  ye 
may  be  strengthened  with  power  through  his  Spirit  in  the  inward 
man;  17  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  through  faith;  to 
the  end,  that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  18  may  be 
strong  to  apprehend  with  all  the  saints  what  is  the  breadth  and 
length  and  height  and  depth,  19  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ 
which  passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  may  be  filled  unto  all  the  full¬ 
ness  of  God. 

« 

“If  thou  art  living  a  righteous  and  a  useful  life,  doing  thy  duty  orderly  and  cheer¬ 
fully  where  God  has  put  thee,  then  thou  art  making  sweeter  melody  in  the  ears  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  than  if  thou  hadst  the  throat  of  a  nightingale;  for  then  thou  in  thy 
humble  place  art  copying  the  everlasting  harmony  and  melody  which  is  in  heaven.” 
- — Charles  Kingsley. 


“I  count  this  thing  to  be  grandly  true: 

That  a  noble  deed  is  a  step  toward  God, 

Lifting  the. soul  from  the  common  sod 
To  a  purer  air  and  a  broader  view. 

“Heaven  is  not  reached  by  a  single  bound, 

But  we  build  the  ladder  by  which  we  rise 
From  the  lowly  earth  to  the  vaulted  skies, 

And  we  mount  to  its  summit,  round  by  round.” 

— J.  G.  Holland. 

Pta ytt  tot  *Dap:  “O  Eternal  God,  sanctify  our  bodies  and  souls, 

our  thoughts  and  intentions,  our  words  and  actions,  that  whatsoever  we  shall 
think  or  speak  or  do  may  be  by  us  designed  for  the  glory  of  thy  name,  and 
by  thy  blessing,  may  be  effective  and  successful,  in  the  work  of  God,  accord¬ 
ing  as  it  can  be  capable.  Lord,  turn  our  necessities  into  virtue;  the  works 
of  nature  into  the  works  of  grace  by  making  them  orderly,  regular,  temper¬ 
ate;  and  let  no  pride  or  self-seeking,  no  covetousness  or  revenge,  no  little 
ends  and  low  imaginations,  pollute  our  spirits  and  unhallow  any  of  our 
words  and  actions;  but  let  our  bodies  be  servants  of  our  spirits  and  both 
bodies  and  spirits  servants  of  Jesus;  that,  doing  all  things  for  thy  glory  here, 
we  may  be  partakers  of  thy  glory  hereafter  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Loid. 
Amen. — Jeremy  Taylor  (1613—1667). 


120 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  i 


honoring  C5oti  bp  £>tit 

Wtz $e  tor  tJjr  Dap  ♦  “Whether  therefore  ye  eat,  or  drink,  or  whatso¬ 
ever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.” — I  Corinthians  IO.  31. 

for  tfjeDap:  Colossians  3.  12—17. 

12  Put  on  therefore,  as  God’s  elect,  holy  and  beloved,  a  heart 
of  compassion,  kindness,  lowliness,  meekness,  long-suffering;  13 
forbearing  one  another,  and  forgiving  each  other,  if  any  man  have 
a  complaint  against  any;  even  as  the  Lord  forgave  you,  so  also  do 
ye:  14  and  above  all  these  things  put  on  love,  which  is  the  bond 
of  perfectness.  15  And  let  the  peace  of  Christ  rule  in  your  hearts, 
to  the  which  also  ye  were  called  in  one  body;  and  be  ye  thankful. 
16  Let  the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly;  in  all  wisdom  teach¬ 
ing  and  admonishing  one  another  with  psalms  and  hymns  and 
spiritual  songs,  singing  with  grace  in  your  hearts  unto  God.  17 
And  v/hatsoever  ye  do,  in  word  or  in  deed,  do  all  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  giving  thanks  to  God  the  Father  through  him. 


“Like  the  beacon  lights  in  harbors  which,  kindling  a  great  blaze  by  means  of  a  few 
fagots,  afford  sufficient  aid  to  vessels  which  wander  over  the  sea,  so  also  a  man  of  bright 
character  in  a  storm-tossed  city,  himself  content  with  little,  effects  great  blessings  for 
his  fellow  citizens.” — Epictetus. 


“There  is  a  sacredness  in  individuality  of  character;  each  one  born  into  this  world 
is  a  fresh,  new  soul  intended  by  his  Maker  to  develop  himself  in  a  new,  fresh  way.  We 
are  what  we  are;  we  cannot  be  truly  other  than  ourselves.  We  reach  perfection,  not 
by  copying,  much  less  by  aiming  at  originality,  but  by  consistently  and  steadily  working 
out  the  life  which  is  common  to  us  all,  according  to  the  character  which  God  has  given  us. 
The  life  of  God  pervades  each  separate  soul;  and  just  in  proportion  as  that  life  becomes 
exalted,  does  it  enable  every  one  to  shine  forth  in  the  distinctness  of  his  own  separate 
individuality,  like  the  stars  of  heaven.” — Frederick  W.  Robertson. 


Ptapet  tot  tfjt  Dap:  “  O  eternal  and  glorious  Lord  God,  ...  let 
thy  wisdom,  power,  justice,  goodness,  mercy  and  truth  be  evident  unto  all 
mankind,  that  they  may  observe,  acknowledge,  and  admire  it,  and  magnify 
the  name  of  thee,  the  eternal  God.  In  all  the  dispensations  of  thy  provi¬ 
dence,  enable  us  to  see  thee  and  to  sanctify  thy  name  in  our  hearts  with 
thankfulness,  in  our  lips  with  thanksgiving,  in  our  lives  with  dutifulness  and 
obedience.  Enable  us  to  live  to  the  honor  of  that  great  name  of  thine  by 
which  we  are  called,  and  that,  as  we  profess  ourselves  to  be  thy  children, 
so  we  may  study  and  sincerely  endeavor  to  be  like  thee  in  all  goodness  and 
righteousness,  that  -  we  may  thereby  bring  glory  to  thee  our  Father  which 
art  in  heaven;  that  we  and  all  mankind  may  have  high  and  honorable 
thoughts  concerning  thee,  in  some  measure  suitable  to  thy  glory,  majesty, 
goodness,  wisdom,  bounty,  and  purity,  and  may  we  in  all  our  words  and 
actions  manifest  these  inward  thoughts  touching  thee  with  suitable  and  be¬ 
coming  words  and  actions,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Sir 
Matthew  Hale  (1609-1676). 


121 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  2 


SDoinff  <3Dux  OOotft  ag»  flllnto  t&e  JLoiti 

$EE#E  (Ot  tl)t  “Whatsoever  ye  do,  work  heartily,  as  unto  the 

Lord,  and  not  unto  men;  ...  ye  serve  the  Lord  Christ.” — Colos- 
sians  3.  23,  24. 

%t$&on  fat  tt>e  Soap:  Romans  12.  4-13. 

4  For  even  as  we  have  many  members  in  one  body,  and  all  the 
members  have  not  the  same  office :  5  so  we,  who  are  many,  are 
one  body  in  Christ,  and  severally  members  one  of  another.  6  And 
having  gifts  differing  according  to  the  grace  that  was  given  to  us, 
whether  prophecy,  let  us  prophesy  according  to  the  proportion  of 
our  faith:  7  or  ministry,  let  us  give  ourselves  to  our  ministry;  or 
he  that  teacheth,  to  his  teaching;  8  or  he  that  exhorteth,  to  his 
exhorting:  he  that  giveth,  let  him  do  it  with  liberality;  he  that 
ruleth,  with  diligence;  he  that  showeth  mercy  with  cheerfulness. 
9  Let  love  be  without  hypocrisy.  Abhor  that  which  is  evil;  cleave 
to  that  which  is  good.  10  In  love  of  the  brethren  be  tenderly  affec- 
tioned  one  to  another;  in  honor  preferring  one  another;  11  in 
diligence  not  slothful;  fervent  in  spirit;  serving  the  Lord;  12  re¬ 
joicing  in  hope;  patient  in  tribulation;  continuing  steadfastly  in 
prayer;  13  communicating  to  the  necessities  of  the  saints;  given 
to  hospitality. 

“Teach  me,  my  God  and  King, 

In  all  things  thee  to  see, 

And  what  I  do  in  anything, 

To  do  it  as  for  thee. 

“All  may  of  thee  partake; 

Nothing  can  be  so  mean, 

Which,  with  this  tincture,  ‘for  thy  sake/ 

Will  not  grow  bright  and  clean. 

“A  servant,  with  this  clause, 

Makes  drudgery  divine; 

Who  sweeps  a  room  as  for  thy  laws, 

Makes  that  and  the  action  fine.” 

— George  Herbert. 

(OE  tf)E  SDftJL  “O  Lord,  who  by  thy  holy  apostle  hast  taught  us 
to  do  all  things  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  and  to  thy  glory;  give  thy 
blessing,  we  pray  thee,  to  our  work  this  day,  that  we  may  do  it  in  faith,  and 
heartily,  as  to  the  Lord,  and  not  unto  men.  All  our  powers  of  body  and 
mind  are  thine,  and  we  would  fain  devote  them  to  thy  service.  Sanctify 
them  and  the  work  in  which  we  are  engaged.  Let  us  not  be  slothful,  but 
fervent  in  spirit,  and  do  thou,  O  Lord,  so  bless  our  efforts  that  they  may 
bring  forth  in  us  the  fruit  of  true  wisdom.  Save  us  from  all  pride  and  vanity 
and  reliance  upon  our  own  power  or  wisdom.  Teach  us  to  seek  after  truth, 
and  enable  us  to  gain  it.  While  we  know  earthly  things,  may  we  know 
thee,  and  be  known  by  thee  through  and  in  thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  that  we 
may  be  thine  in  body  and  spirit,  in  all  our  work  and  undertakings,  through 
Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — Thomas  Arnold  (1795-1842). 

122 


CONSECRATION  MAY  3 

Eagutg  &£iibe  &tzy  CHieigfit 


®tz$t  for  tty  2Dag:  “  The  night  is  far  spent,  and  the  day  is  at  hand : 
let  us  therefore  cast  off  the  work  of  darkness,  and  let  us  put  on  the 
armor  of  light.” — Romans  13.  12. 

JLe$$on  tot  tty  2Dap:  Hebrews  12.  I— 3. 

1  Therefore  let  us  also,  seeing  we  are  compassed  about  with 
so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses,  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin 
which  doth  so  easily  beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race 
that  is  set  before  us,  2  looking  unto  Jesus  the  author  and  perfecter 
of  our  faith,  who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him  endured  the 
cross,  despising  shame,  and  hath  sat  down  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  throne  of  God.  3  For  consider  him  that  hath  endured  such 
gainsaying  of  sinners  against  himself,  that  ye  wax  not  weary, 
fainting  in  your  souls. 

“In  full  and  glad  surrender  we  give  ourselves  to  thee, 

Thine  utterly  and  only  and  evermore  to  be! 

O  Son  of  God,  who  lovest  us,  we  will  be  thine  alone, 

And  all  we  are  and  all  we  have  shall  henceforth  be  thine  own.” 

— Frances  Ridley  Havergal. 


“Anything  which  makes  religion  its  second  object  makes  religion  no  object.  God 
will  put  up  with  a  great  many  things  in  the  human  heart,  but  there  is  one  thing  he  will 
not  put  up  with  in  it — a  second  place.  He  who  offers  God  a  second  place,  offers  him  no 
place.” — John  Ruskin. 


^Z&ytt  (Ot  “O  Lord,  we  desire  to  draw  near  unto  thee  in  the 

name  of  Him  whom  thou  hearest  always,  thy  blessed  Son.  We  have  sinned 
against  light  and  privilege  and  warning  and  mercy.  We  mourn  the  feeble¬ 
ness  of  our  faith,  the  fitfulness  of  our  love,  and  the  imperfection  of  our  best 
service,  the  mingled  motives  in  our  holiest  duties.  We  come  anew  to  thee 
pleading  for  thy  mercy.  Forgive  our  sins.  Help  us  to  turn  from  them 
and  grant  us  grace  to  live  as  thy  children,  advancing  in  conformity  to  thy 
blessed  mind  and  will.  May  we  earnestly  strive  after  greater  spiritual  attain¬ 
ments- — laying  aside  every  weight  and  running  with  patience  the  race  that 
is  set  before  us.  O  God,  our  Saviour,  dwell  in  this  household.  Make  every 
member  of  it  thine.  (May  those  that  are  absent  feel  that  thou  art  near 
them.  May  those  that  are  in  distress  of  body  or  mind  be  blessed  and  com¬ 
forted  by  thee.)  Do  thou  increase  the  devotedness  of  thy  children.  May 
we  grow  in  likeness  to  Christ  and  in  fitness  for  his  service.  Prosper  thy 
cause  and  kingdom  everywhere.  Give  to  each  of  us  this  day  thy  gracious 
benediction;  and  when  the  days  of  earth  shall  for  us  merge  into  the  ages 
of  eternity,  may  it  be  ours  to  spend  them  in  the  full  fruition  of  thee,  our 
God,  through  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. 


123 


CONSECRATION  MAY  4 

Cnt in  Consecration  to  d$ob 

PetSe  fOt  tje  “Who  then  offereth  willingly  to  consecrate  him¬ 

self  this  day  unto  Jehovah?” — 1  Chronicles  29.  5. 

Wesson  tor  tfjeSDap;  I  Timothy  6.  11— 14. 

11  But  thou,  O  man  of  God,  flee  these  things;  and  follow 
after  righteousness,  godliness,  faith,  love,  patience,  meekness.  12 
Fight  the  good  fight  of  the  faith,  lay  hold  on  the  life  eternal, 
whereunto  thou  wast  called,  and  didst  confess  the  good  confession 
in  the  sight  of  many  witnesses.  13  I  charge  thee  in  the  sight  of 
God,  who  giveth  life  to  all  things,  and  of  Christ  Jesus,  who  before 
Pontius  Pilate  witnessed  the  good  confession;  14  that  thou  keep 
the  commandment,  without  spot,  without  reproach,  until  the 
appearing  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


“Let  me  get  up  every  morning  with  this  for  my  instantaneous  thought,  that  my 
Master  wakes  me.  I  wake,  I  rise,  his  property.  And  let  me  continually,  in  the  habit 
of  my  thought,  be  coming  again  into  that  Presence-chamber  to  renew  the  act  of  that 
dedication  and  submission.” — H.  C.  G.  Moule. 


“There  was  a  day  when  I  died,  utterly  died — died  to  George  Muller,  his  opinions, 
preferences,  tastes  and  will — died  to  the  world,  its  approval  or  censure — died  to  the 
approval  or  blame  even  of  my  brethren  and  friends — and  since  then  I  have  studied  only 
to  show  myself  approved  unto  God.” — George  Muller. 


l&l aptC  (DC  t j&Dapt  “O  God,  the  Father  Almighty,  Maker  of  heaven 
and  earth,  we  would  come  to  thee  in  entire  consecration  of  ourselves  to 
thee  and  to  thy  service.  Grant  unto  us  evermore  thy  strengthening  grace 
that  we  may  glorify  thee  with  our  bodies  and  our  spirits,  which  are  thine. 
Enable  us  in  everything  to  submit  ourselves  to  thy  holy  will.  Help  us  to 
keep  back  nothing  from  thee,  but  to  bring  all  our  secret  sins  into  the  clear 
light  of  thy  presence.  And  do  thou  so  draw  us  to  thyself  by  the  power  of 
thy  great  love,  that  we  may  count  nothing  dear  that  thou  hatest,  not  anything 
hard  which  thou  dost  command.  Hide  us,  Lord,  under  the  shadow  of  thy 
wings  from  the  enemy  who  would  seek  our  souls.  Thine  by  creation,  thine 
by  redemption,  thine  by  the  call  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  may  we  be  thine  also 
by  the  choice  of  our  own  hearts.  Oh,  bring  our  every  wish  and  our  every 
thought  into  captivity  to  the  obedience  of  Christ.  From  strong  and  sudden 
temptation,  from  pride  and  selfishness,  from  hatred,  malice,  and  envy,  from 
falsehood  and  hypocrisy,  from  irreverent  thoughts  and  careless  words,  from 
hindering  others  in  good  or  tempting  them  to  evil,  deliver  and  save  us,  O 
Lord  our  God.  We  ask  it  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. 


124 


CONSECRATION  MAY  5 

Consecration  to  Hotolp  lettuce 


Wtt$t  (or  tfye  2Dap:  “  Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me;  for  I 
am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart:  and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls.” — 
Matthew  11.  29. 

Wesson  (or  tfjeSDap:  Romans  12.  15—21. 

15  Rejoice  with  them  that  rejoice;  weep  with  them  that  weep. 
16  Be  of  the  same  mind  one  toward  another.  Set  not  your  mind 
on  high  things,  but  condescend  to  things  that  are  lowly.  Be  not 
wise  in  your  own  conceits.  17  Render  to  no  man  evil  for  evil. 
Take  thought  for  things  honorable  in  the  sight  of  all  men.  18  If 
it  be  possible,  as  much  as  in  you  lieth,  be  at  peace  with  all  men. 
19  Avenge  not  yourselves,  beloved,  but  give  place  unto  the  wrath 
of  God :  for  it  is  written,  Vengeance  belongeth  unto  me;  I  will 
recompense,  saith  the  Lord.  20  But  if  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed 
him;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  to  drink:  for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt 
heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his  head.  21  Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but 
overcome  evil  with  good. 


“Not  mine  to  mount  to  courts  where  seraphs  sing, 

Or  glad  archangels  soar  on  outstretched  wing; 

Not  mine  in  union  with  celestial  choirs 

To  sound  heaven’s  trump,  or  strike  the  gentler  wires; 

Not  mine  to  stand  enrolled  at  crystal  gates. 

Where  Michael  thunders  or  where  Uriel  waits. 

But  lesser  worlds  a  father’s  kindness  know; 

Be  mine  some  simple  service  here  below — 

To  weep  with  those  who  weep,  their  joys  to  share, 

Their  pain  to  solace,  or  their  burdens  bear; 

Some  widow  in  her  agony  to  meet; 

Some  exile  in  her  new-found  home  to  greet; 

To  serve  some  child  of  thine,  and  so  serve  thee, 

Lo,  here  am  I!  To  such  a  work  send  me!”  — Hale. 

ptaget  (ot  tlje  SDftgt  “O  most  gracious  God,  from  whom  every  good  and 
perfect  gift  cometh,  we  beseech  thee  to  work  in  us  both  to  will  and  to  do 
according  to  thy  good  pleasure.  Enlighten  our  minds  that  we  may  know 
thee,  and  let  us  not  be  unfruitful  in  that  knowledge.  Lord,  work  in 
our  hearts  a  true  faith,  a  purifying  hope,  and  an  unfeigned  love  toward 
thee.  Give  us  a  full  trust  in  thee,  zeal  for  thee,  reverence  of  all  things  that 
relate  to  thee.  Make  us  fearful  to  offend  thee,  thankful  for  thy  mercies, 
humble  under  thy  corrections,  devout  in  thy  service,  and  sorrowful  for  our 
sins.  Make  us  diligent  in  all  our  duties,  watchful  against  all  temptations, 
pure  and  temperate  and  moderate  in  thy  most  lawful  enjoyments,  that  they 
may  never  become  a  snare  to  us.  Help  us,  O  Lord,  to  act  toward  our 
neighbor,  that  we  may  never  transgress  the  royal  law  of  thine,  of  loving  him 
as  ourselves.  Finally,  we  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  to  sanctify  us  throughout, 
that  our  whole  spirit,  soul,  and  body,  may  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom  with  thee  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
be  all  honor  and  glory  forever.”  Amen. — Thomas  a  Kempls  (1379-1471)- 

125 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  6 


designation  to  tfje  dCitU  ot  C5oti 

Vn0t  for  t&e  2Dap:  “  Teach  me  to  do  thy  will; 

For  thou  art  my  God.” 

— Psalm  143.  10. 

Wesson  torttie  2Dap:  Luke  22.  39-43- 

39  And  he  came  out,  and  went,  as  his  custom  was,  unto  the 
mount  of  Olives;  and  the  disciples  also  followed  him.  40  And 
when  he  was  at  the  place,  he  said  unto  them,  Pray  that  ye  enter 
not  into  temptation.  41  And  he  was  parted  from  them  about  a 
stone’s  cast;  and  he  kneeled  down  and  prayed,  42  saying,  Father, 
if  thou  be  willing,  remove  this  cup  from  me:  nevertheless  not  my 
will,  but  thine,  be  done.  43  And  there  appeared  unto  him  an  angel 
from  heaven,  strengthening  him. 

“To  fail  in  finding  gifts,  and  still  to  give; 

To  count  all  troubles  ease,  all  loss  as  gain: 

To  learn  in  dying  as  thyself  to  live — 

This  dost  thou  do,  and  seek  thy  joy  in  pain? 

Rejoice  that  not  unworthy  thou  art  found 
For  love  to  touch  thee  with  his  hand  divine. 

Put  off  thy  shoes — thou  art  on  holy  ground; 

Thou  standest  on  the  threshold  of  his  shrine. 

But  canst  thou  wait  in  patience,  make  no  sign, 

And  where  in  power  thou  fail’st — oh,  not  in  will! — 

See  sore  need  be  served  by  other  hands  than  thine 
And  other  hands  the  dear  desires  fulfill, 

Hear  others  gain  the  thanks  that  thou  wouldst  win, 

Yet  all  be  joy?  Then  hast  thou  entered  in.” 

— Brackett. 

fOt  tj)£  SDapt  “O.  Lord,  our  God,  let  our  devout  approach  to  thee 
be  that  of  the  heart,  not  of  the  lips  ....  Thou  desirest  not  temples 
nor  offerings,  but  the  sacrifice  of  a  lowly  and  grateful  heart  thou  wilt  not 
despise.  Merciful  Father,  to  all  thy  dispensations  we  would  submit  our¬ 
selves,  not  grudgingly,  not  merely  of  necessity,  but  because  we  believe  in  thy 
wisdom,  thy  universal  rule,  and  thy  goodness.  In  bereavement  and  in  sorrow, 
in  death  as  in  life,  in  joys  and  in  happiness,  we  would  see  thy  hand.  Teach 
us  to  see  it;  increase  our  faith  where  we  cannot  see;  teach  us  also  to  love 
justice,  and  to  do  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  our  God.  Make  us  at 
peace  with  all  mankind,  gentle  to  those  who  offend  us,  faithful  in  all  duties, 
and  sincere  in  sorrow  when  we  fail  in  duty.  Make  us  loving  to  one 
another,  patient  in  distress;  and  ever  thoughtful  to  thy  divine  power,  which 
keeps,  and  guides,  and  blesses  us  every  day.  Lord,  accept  our  humble  prayer, 
accomplish  in  us  thy  holy  will.  Let  thy  peace  reign  in  our  hearts,  and  enable 
us  to  walk  with  thee  in  love,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
Francis  W .  Newman  (1805-1897). 


126 


CONSECRATION  MAY  7 

Significance  ot  1 6e  Common 

®n$t  for  tge  2Dap:  ‘  ‘Whatsoever  ye  do,  work  heartily,  as  unto  the 
Lord,  and  not  unto  men.” — Colossians  3.  23. 

UnsrgionfortSrSDag:  2  Timothy  2.  15-17,  19-21. 

15  Give  diligence  to  present  thyself  approved  unto  God,  a 
workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  handling  aright  the  word 
of  truth.  16  But  shun  profane  babblings:  for  they  will  proceed 
further  in  ungodliness,  17  and  their  word  will  eat  as  doth  a  gan¬ 
grene.  ...  19  Howbeit  the  firm  foundation  of  God  standeth, 
having  this  seal,  The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are  his:  and,  Let 
every  one  that  nameth  the  name  of  the  Lord  depart  from  unright¬ 
eousness.  20  Now  in  a  great  house  there  are  not  only  vessels  of 
gold  and  of  silver,  but  also  of  wood  and  of  earth;  and  some  unto 
honor,  and  some  unto  dishonor.  21  If  a  man  therefore  purge  him¬ 
self  from  these,  he  shall  be  a  vessel  unto  honor,  sanctified,  meet 
for  the  master’s  use,  prepared  unto  every  good  work. 


“Don’t  object  that  your  duties  are  so  insignificant;  they  are  to  be  reckoned  of 
infinite  significance,  and  alone  important  to  you.  'Were  it  but  the  more  perfect  regula¬ 
tion  of  your  apartments,  the  sorting  away  of  your  clothes  and  trinkets,  the  arranging 
of  your  papers — ‘Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy  might,’  and  all 
thy  worth  and  constancy.  Much  more,  if  your  duties  are  of  evidently  higher,  wider 
scope;  if  you  have  brothers,  sisters,  a  father,  a  mother,  weigh  earnestly  what  claim 
does  lie  upon  you  on  behalf  of  each,  and  consider  it  as  the  one  thing  needful,  to  pay  them 
more  and  more  honestly  and  nobly  what  you  owe.  What  matter  how  miserable  one  is  if 
one  can  do  that?  That  is  the  sure  and  steady  disconnection  and  extinction  of  what¬ 
soever  miseries  one  has  in  this  world.” — Thomas  Carlyle. 


“Good  habits  are  not  made  on  birthdays,  nor  Christian  character  at  the  new  year. 
The  workshop  of  character  is  everyday  life.  The  uneventful  and  commonplace  hour  is 
where  the  battle  is  lost  or  won.” — Maltbie  D.  Babcock. 


Pta^Ct  (Ot  tjt  $Da#t  “Our.  heavenly  Father,  we  give  thee  humble  and 
hearty  thanks  for  all  the  sacred  traditions  which  have  come  down  to  us  from 
the  past — for  the  glorious  memories  of  ancient  days,  concerning  that  divine 
light  in  which  men  have  been  conscious  of  thy  presence  and  assured  of  thy 
grace.  But  we  would  not  content  ourselves  with  memories.  O  thou  who 
art  not  the  God  of  the  dead,  but  the  God  of  the  living,  manifest  thyself  unto 
us  in  a  present  communion.  Teach  us,  by  the  spirit  of  Christ,  the  sacred¬ 
ness  of  common  duties,  the  holiness  of  the  ties  that  bind  us  to  our  kind, 
the  divinity  of  the  still  small  voice  within  that  doth  ever  urge  us  in  the 
way  of  righteousness.  So  shall  our  hearts  be  renewed  by  faith;  so  shall  we 
ever  live  in  God.”  Amen. — John  Hunter  (b.  1849). 


127 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  8 


dClotlti  ot  ti)t  Cfjutcl)  ot  C8n£t 

(Ot  tl)E  &)&£♦  “And  this  gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall  be  preached 
in  the  whole  world  for  a  testimony  unto  all  the  nations.” — Matthew 
24.  14. 

^f!^!£»0n  tot  2Da^:  Matthew  28.  16-20;  Isaiah  42.  4. 

16  But  the  eleven  disciples  went  into  Galilee,  unto  the  moun¬ 
tain  where  Jesus  had  appointed  them.  17  And  when  they  saw 
him,  they  worshiped  him;  but  some  doubted.  18  And  Jesus  came 
to  them  and  spake  unto  them,  saying,  All  authority  hath  been  given 
unto  me  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  19  Go  ye  therefore,  and  make 
disciples  of  all  the  nations,  baptizing  them  into  the  name  of  the 
Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit:  20  teaching  them 
to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  commanded  you:  and  lo,  I 
am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 

42.  4  He  will  not  fail  nor  be  discouraged,  till  he  have  set  justice 
in  the  earth;  and  the  isles  shall  wait  for  his  law. 


“O  Zion,  haste,  thy  mission  high  fulfilling, 

To  tell  to  all  the  world  that  God  is  Light; 

That  he  who  made  all  nations  is  not  willing 

One  soul  should  perish,  lost  in  shades  of  night. 

“Proclaim  to  every  people,  tongue,  and  nation, 

That  God,  in  whom  they  live  and  move,  is  Love: 

Tell  how  he  stooped  to  save  his  lost  creation. 

And  died  on  earth  that  man  might  live  above. 

“Give  of  thy  sons  to  bear  the  message  glorious; 

Give  of  thy  wealth  to  speed  them  on  their  way; 

Pour  out  thy  soul  for  them  in  prayer  victorious; 

And  all  thou  spendest  Jesus  will  repay. 

“He  comes  again:  O  Zion,  ere  thou  meet  him, 

Make  known  to  every  heart  his  saving  grace; 

Let  none  whom  he  hath  ransomed  fail  to  greet  him, 

Thro’  thy  neglect  unfit  to  see  his  face.” 

— Mary  A.  Thompson. 


(Ot  tjt  O  God,  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  whom 

the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is  named,  we  thank  thee  that  thou 
hast  been  pleased  to  show  thyself,  and  to  reveal  thy  will  in  thy  Son.  May 
the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ  be  preached  in  the  whole  world,  and  every¬ 
where  among  the  nations  may  thy  church  be  established.  We  praise  thee  for 
the  prosperity  of  thy  church.  Open  every  door  that  is  now  closed  to  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  and  give  to  thy  servants  the  faith  and  zeal  to  enter 
in.  May  the  study  and  understanding  of  the  Scriptures  be  greatly  advanced, 
that  the  minds  of  thy  people  may  be  filled  with  thy  truth,  and  their  lives 
may  be  more  worthy  of  thy  name.  Take  away,  O  Lord,  the  many  faults 
that  mar  thy  church ;  and  especially,  we  pray  thee,  take  away  those  that  thou 
seest  in  us.  And  grant  that  we  may  be  kept  from  falling,  till  we  come  into 
the  presence  of  thy  glory,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

128 


CONSECRATION  MAY  9 

3ftttle0  (at  CJttettan  Eibing 


tot  tlje  SDag:  “  He  that  saith  he  abideth  in  him  ought  himself  also 
to  walk  even  as  he  walked.” — 1  John  2.  6. 

JLt&$o  n  fot  t!)t2Dag:  Romans  12.  9—21. 

9  Let  love  be  without  hypocrisy.  Abhor  that  which  is  evil; 
cleave  to  that  which  is  good.  10  In  love  of  the  brethren  be  tenderly 
affectioned  one  to  another;  .  .  .  11  in  diligence  not  slothful; 

fervent  in  spirit;  serving  the  Lord;  12  rejoicing  in  hope;  patient 
in  tribulation;  continuing  steadfastly  in  prayer;  13  communicating 
to  the  necessities  of  the  saints;  given  to  hospitality.  14  Bless  them 
that  persecute  you;  bless,  and  curse  not.  15  Rejoice  with  them 
that  rejoice;  weep  with  them  that  weep.  16  Be  of  the  same  mind 
one  toward  another.  Set  not  your  mind  on  high  things,  but  con¬ 
descend  to  things  that  are  lowly.  Be  not  wise  in  your  own  con¬ 
ceits.  17  Render  to  no  man  evil  for  evil.  Take  thought  for  things 
honorable  in  the  sight  of  all  men.  18  If  it  be  possible,  as  much 
as  in  you  lieth,  be  at  peace  with  all  men.  19  Avenge  not  your¬ 
selves,  beloved,  but  give  place  unto  the  wrath  of  God :  for  it  is 
written,  Vengeance  belongeth  unto  me;  I  will  recompense,  saith 
the  Lord.  20  But  if  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him;  if  he  thirst, 
give  him  to  drink;  for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire 
upon  his  head.  21  Be  not  overcome  of  evil  but  overcome  evil  with 
good. 


“Love  is  life,  and  lovelessness  is  death.  As  the  grace  of  God  changes  a  man’s  heart 
and  cleanses  and  sanctifies  him,  this  is  the  great  evidence  of  the  change,  this  is  the  great 
difference  which  it  makes;.  that  he  begins  to  grow  in  love,  to  lay  aside  self-seeking,  and  to 
live  for  others — and  so  he  may  know  that  he  has  passed  from  death  unto  life.  He  may 
know  it  even  here  and  now — yes,  that  great  discovery  of  love,  that  learning  to  live  for 
others  and  finding  the  grace  and  gentleness  that  God  is  keeping  up  all  over  the  world — 
even  now  it  is  the  way  from  death  to  life.  Even  now  it  changes  homes,  it  lightens  every 
burden,  it  brings  peace  and  gladness  into  the  hardest  days;  it  alters  the  tone  of  a  man’s 
voice  and  the  very  look  of  his  face.” — Francis  Paget. 

ptaper  tot  t&e  2Dap;  “  O  God,  purify  our  hearts,  that  we  may  entirely 
love  thee,  and  rejoice  in  being  loved  by  thee.  May  we  never  sink  into  an 
undue  love  of  anything  here  below,  nor  be  immoderately  oppressed  with  the 
cares  of  this  life,  but  teach  us  ever  to  ‘abhor  that  which  is  evil,  and  cleave 
to  that  which  is  good.’  May  we  use  this  world  as  not  abusing  it.  May  we 
be  endowed  with  true  humility  of  spirit,  and  never  be  allowed  to  think  more 
highly  of  ourselves  than  we  ought  to  think.  Make  us  kindly  affectioned  one 
to  another  with  brotherly  love,  delighting  to  do  good,  and  ever  showing 
all  meekness  to  all  men.  May  we  rejoice  to  owe  no  man  anything,  but 
to  love  one  another,  to  bless  those  that  curse  us,  to  do  good  to  them  that 
hate  us,  to  rejoice  with  them  that  do  rejoice,  and  to  weep  with  them  that 
weep.  Help  us  to  pray  always,  and  not  faint,  in  everything  giving  thanks, 
offering  up  the  sacrifice  of  praise  continually,  possessing  our  souls  in  patience, 
and  learning  in  whatsoever  state  we  are  therewith  to  be  content ;  for  the 
sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord,  and  Master.”  Amen. — Fielding  Ould  (1864). 

129 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  io 


SDoutg:  tty  flfllotft  of  CSrigt 

fOt  t j)£  SDftJH  “Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of 
my  Father  who  is  in  heaven.” — Matthew  7.  21. 

ilejsitfonfottljtSDa#:  Luke  6.  46-49. 

46  And  why  call  ye  me,  Lord,  Lord,  and  do  not  the  things 
which  I  say?  47  Every  one  that  cometh  unto  me,  and  heareth  my 
words,  and  doeth  them,  I  will  show  you  to  whom  he  is  like:  48 
he  is  like  a  man  building  a  house,  who  digged  and  went  deep,  and 
laid  a  foundation  upon  the  rock:  and  when  a  flood  arose,  the  stream 
brake  against  that  house,  and  could  not  shake  it:  because  it  had 
been  well  builded.  49  But  he  that  heareth,  and  doeth  not,  is  like 
a  man  that  built  a  house  upon  the  earth  without  a  foundation; 
against  which  the  stream  brake,  and  straightway  it  fell  in;  and 
the  ruin  of  that  house  was  great. 

“The  smallest  things  become  great  when  God  requires  them  of  us:  they  are  small 
only  in  themselves:  they  are  always  great  when  they  are  done  for  God,  and  when  they 
serve  to  unite  us  with  him  eternally. — Fenelon. 


“  ‘Lord,  I  would  follow,  but, 

First,  I  would  see  the  end  of  this  high  road 
That  stretches  straight  before  me,  fair  and  broad; 

So  clear  the  way,  I  cannot  go  astray, 

It  surely  leads  me  equally  to  God. 

“  ‘Lord,  I  would  follow — yea, 

Follow  I  will — but  first  so  much  there  is 
That  claims  me  in  life’s  vast  emergencies — 

Wrongs  to  be  righted,  great  things  to  be  done — 

Shall  I  neglect  these  vital  urgencies?’ 

“  ‘Who  answers  Christ’s  insistent  call 
Must  give  himself,  his  life,  his  all, 

Without  one  backward  look; 

Who  sets  his  hand  unto  the  plow 
And  glances  back  with  anxious  brow 
His  calling  hath  mistook. 

Christ  claims  him,  wholly,  for  his  own — 

He  must  be  Christ’s,  and  Christ’s  alone.’  ” 

— John  Oxenham. 

fOt  tf)t  Our  Lord  and  Master,  we  entreat  thee  to  impart 

to  us  thy  grace  and  to  strengthen  us  by  thy  Spirit,  that  we  might  not  only 
hear  thy  words  but  that  we  may  do  them.  May  we  build  our  house  upon 
the  rock.  Help  us  to  be  diligent  in  all  duty,  faithful  in  all  the  relations  of 
life,  and  earnest  in  all  that  we  undertake.  Incline  our  hearts  to  keep  thy 
laws.  Restrain  in  us  all  unholy  tendencies  and  desires.  Strengthen  us  for 
the  enduring  of  whatever  temptations  come  to  us.  Fill  us  with  thy  love, 
that  we  may  be  always  gentle,  patient,  thoughtful,  and  kind.  May  we  have 
grace  to  show,  not  in  our  words  only,  but  in  our  disposition,  in  our  conduct, 
the  Spirit  of  our  Master.  For  thy  name’s  sake.  Amen. 

130 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  n 


(TOmo;  ftll  Cot  Cfjttet 

tot  tt>e  2Dap:  “  Yea  verily,  and  I  count  all  things  to  be  loss  for 
the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord:  for  whom 
I  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things,  .  .  .  that  I  may  gain  Christ,  and 
be  found  in  him.” — Philippians  3.  8,  9. 

Bleggon  CottfjejaDag:  Matthew  19.  16-22. 

16  And  behold,  one  came  to  him  and  said,  Teacher,  what  good 
thing  shall  I  do,  that  I  may  have  eternal  life?  17  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Why  askest  thou  me  concerning  that  which  is  good?  One 
there  is  who  is  good:  but  if  thou  wouldest  enter  into  life,  keep  the 
commandments.  18  He  saith  unto  him,  Which?  And  Jesus  said, 
Thou  shalt  not  kill,  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery,  Thou  shalt 
not  steal,  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness,  19  Honor  thy  father 
and  thy  mother;  and,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself. 
20  The  young  man  saith  unto  him,  All  these  things  have  I  observed: 
what  lack  I  yet?  21  Jesus  said  unto  him,  If  thou  wouldest  be  per¬ 
fect,  go,  sell  that  which  thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou 
shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven:  and  come,  follow  me.  22  But  when 
the  young  man  heard  the  saying,  he  went  away  sorrowful ;  for  he 
was  one  that  had  great  possessions. 


“I  would  rather  die  for  Christ  than  rule  the  world.” — Ignatius. 

“For  the  most  part  we  go  at  half  pressure  through  a  pale  world,  but  sometimes 
some  poignant  love,  joy,  beauty,  or  suffering  lifts  up  the  everlasting  gates  of  our  blind¬ 
ness,  and  the  King  of  Glory  comes  in.  .  .  .  He  will  never  come  in  a  timid,  artificial, 
selfish,  and  ease-loving  existence.  ...  It  is  when  we  voluntarily  strip  ourselves  of  the 
little  selfish  timidities  for  a  great  cause,  that  this  mysterious  King  of  Glory  comes  in 
most  radiantly.  The  saints  and  mystics  knew  this.  They  were  not  in  pursuit  of  a  pale 
negation;  they  were  furiously  and  gloriously  crucifying  the  smaller  self,  that  the  larger 
might  be  set  free.” — Anonymous. 


Pt OlpZt  COE  tf)E  “Almighty  God,  thou  hast  fashioned  us  for  thyself, 

and  we  cannot  find  rest  till  we  find  it  in  thee.  Frail  and  sinful,  mortal  as  all 
things  on  earth  are  mortal,  yet  thou  hast  taught  us  to  live  as  creatures  cap¬ 
able  of  immortality  and  eternal  life.  We  bless  thee  for  these  inner  visions, 
these  heavenly  promptings,  these  spiritual  instincts,  these  inextinguishable 
hopes.  We  recognize  ourselves  as  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with  Jesus 
Christ  of  a  kingdom  yet  to  be  revealed.  O,  teach  us  then  the  gravity  and 
seriousness  of  life;  teach  us  to  number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our 
hearts  unto  wisdom.  May  we  be  so  enamored  of  all  things  right,  and  pure, 
and  lovely,  and  of  good  report,  that  evil  shall  not  be  able  to  gain  dominion 
over  us.  Fill  our  whole  hearts  with  thyself,  that  there  shall  be  no  room  for 
any  other  tenant.  May  we  count  all  thmgs  to  be  loss  for  the  excellency  of 
the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  We  know  not  what  temptations 
shall  meet  us  this  day,  but  we  know  that  thou  art  able  to  keep  us  from  fall¬ 
ing,  if  we  are  willing  to  be  kept.  Vouchsafe  then,  O  Lord,  to  keep  us  this 
day  without  sin,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  our  one  Lord  and  Saviour.” 
Amen. 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  12 


Clati  fltllttf)  t!)e  &tntot  of  C5od 

fOE  tf)t  “Finally,  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the 

strength  of  his  might.  Put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God.” — Ephesians 
6.  io,  na. 

for  tfje  $Dap:  Ephesians  6.  13—18. 

13  Wherefore  take  up  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be 
able  to  withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and,  having  done  all,  to  stand. 
14  Stand  therefore,  having  girded  your  loins  with  truth,  and  hav¬ 
ing  put  on  the  breastplate  of  righteousness,  15  and  having  shod 
your  feet  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace;  16  withal 
taking  up  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to  quench 
all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  evil  one.  17  And  take  the  helmet  of  sal¬ 
vation,  and  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God: 
18  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  praying  at  all  seasons  in  the 
Spirit,  and  watching  thereunto  in  all  perseverance  and  supplication 
for  all  the  saints. 


“Stand  then  in  his  great  might, 

With  all  his  strength  endued; 

But  take,  to  arm  you  for  the  fight, 

The  panoply  of  God. 

Leave  no  unguarded  place, 

No  weakness  of  the  soul; 

Take  every  virtue,  every  grace, 

And  fortify  the  whole/’  — Charles  Wesley. 

“My  son,  thou  art  never  secure  in  this  life  but,  as  long  as  thou  livest,  thou  shalt 
always  need  spiritual  armor.” — Thomas  a  Kempis. 

“To  be  good  requires  an  effort;  it  requires  the  girded  loin  and  the  burning  lamp; 
it  requires  the  soldier’s  armor  and  the  athlete’s  nerve;  but  to  be  bad,  to  be  treacherous, 
to  be  soft,  to  be  lazy,  to  be  impure — that  needs  nothing  but  the  vainest,  the  silliest,  the 
emptiest,  the  most  degraded  natures.” — Frederick  W.  Farrar. 

fOC  tfj t  “Blessed  Lord,  who  hath  power  to  establish  us 

according  to  thy  gospel,  strengthen  our  hearts,  that  we  fall  not  from  our 
steadfastness.  Hold  thou  us  up  and  we  shall  be  safe.  Suffer  us  no  more 
to  wander  from  thy  ways,  or  to  grow  weary  in  keeping  thy  Commandments. 
Whatever  of  sin  or  of  infirmity  thou  seest  in  us,  O  Lord,  forgive  it,  and 
help  us  to  overcome  it.  Whatever  of  good  thy  grace  may  have  wrought  in 
us,  be  blessed  to  confirm  and  complete  it  unto  the  day  of  Christ.  Make  us 
watchful  against  temptation,  strong  in  faith,  diligent  in  duty,  patient  in 
trial,  and  fervent  in  prayer.  Teach  us  to  endure  hardness  as  good  soldiers 
of  Jesus  Christ;  and  to  take  unto  us  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  we 
may  be  able  to  withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and,  having  done  all,  to  stand. 
Let  thy  divine  power  so  strengthen  our  weakness  that  neither  the  allure¬ 
ments  of  the  world  nor  the  evil  desires  of  our  own  hearts  may  prevail  against 
us,  but  that  we  may  in  all  things  be  more  than  conquerors  through  him  that 
loved  us.  Keep  us  steadfast  and  immovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord;  and  enable  us  to  be  faithful  unto  death.  In  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. 

132 


CONSECRATION  MAY  13 

&  ®$ozt  Cfittetfan  Character 


IPtZ&t  tot  t fie  2Dag:  “Every  one  therefore  that  heareth  these  words  of 
mine,  and  doeth  them,  shall  be  likened  unto  a  wise  man,  who  built  his 
house  upon  the  rock.” — Matthew  7.  24. 

Heston  tot  tljeSDag:  1  Peter  1.  5-11. 

5  [We]  by  the  power  of  God  are  guarded  through  faith  unto 
a  salvation  ready  to  be  revealed  in  the  last  time.  6  Wherein  ye 
greatly  rejoice,  though  now  for  a  little  while,  if  need  be,  ye  have 
been  put  to  grief  in  manifold  trials,  7  that  the  proof  of  your  faith, 
being  more  precious  than  gold  that  perisheth  though  it  is  proved 
by  fire,  be  found  unto  praise  and  glory  and  honor  at  the  revelation 
of  Jesus  Christ:  8  whom  not  having  seen  ye  love;  on  whom,  though 
now  ye  see  him  not,  yet  believing,  ye  rejoice  greatly  with  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory:  9  receiving  the  end  of  your  faith, 
even  the  salvation  of  your  souls.  10  Concerning  which  salvation 
the  prophets  sought  and  searched  diligently,  who  prophesied  of 
the  grace  that  should  come  unto  you:  11  searching  what  time  or 
what  manner  of  time  the  Spirit  of  Christ  that  was  in  them  did 
point  unto,  when  it  testified  beforehand  the  sufferings  of  Christ, 
and  the  glories  that  should  follow  them. 


“The  world  is  full  of  hatred  and  strife  and  murder  to-day  because  of  the  incapacity 
of  millions  of  people  in  organized  states  to  receive  the  truth  that  is  being  spread  through¬ 
out  all  civilization  and  which  is  to  be  theirs  in  centuries  to  come — but  they  are  not 
ready  for  it. 

“This  is  a  matter  not  of  intellectual  power,  it  is  not  a  matter  of  learning,  it  is  not 
a  matter  of  precept;  it  is  a  matter  of  the  development  of  character.  All  the  sermons 
ever  preached,  all  the  orations  ever  delivered,  all  the  books  ever  printed,  working  through 
the  brain  of  man,  cannot  fit  him  for  the  acceptance  of  the  highest  tasks  that  man  is 
capable  of.  The  development  of  character  must  come  through  exercise  by  them  of  the 
virtues  that  make  human  character — ’mercy,  compassion,  kindly  consideration,  broth¬ 
erly  affection,  sympathy  with  fellowmen,  unselfish  willingness  to  sacrifice  for  others. 

“The  exercise  among  the  people  of  those  qualities  is  the  essential  and  the  only  way 
by  which  the  character  of  a  people  may  be  developed,  so  that  they  may  become  truly 
civilized  and  truly  Christian.” — Elihu  Root. 

I^ta^tt  fOt  tjt  “We  beseech  thee  that  thou  wilt  forgive  us  our 

selfishness,  and  our  pride,  and  our  sordidness,  and  our  abandonment  of  things 
spiritual,  and  our  inordinate  attachment  to  things  carnal  and  temporal.  For¬ 
give,  we  beseech  of  thee,  our  unkindness  one  to  another.  Forgive  us  that 
in  honor  we  have  sought  our  own  selves  first,  and  not  others;  that  we  have 
not  borne  one  another’s  burdens,  and  fulfilled  the  law  of  God.  Forgive  us 
that  we  have  made  ourselves  unlovely  by  our  evil  carriage.  Forgive  us 
that  we  have  failed  to  discharge  these  obligations  of  love  and  gratitude  which 
thy  sufferings  and  thy  death  and  thy  resurrection  have  laid  every  one  of 
us  under.  Open  the  way  of  the  future  for  us,  that  we  may  walk  without 
stumbling;  that  we  may  live  with  a  higher  purpose  and  better  accomplish¬ 
ment;  that  we  may  not  only  be  forgiven  for  past  sin,  but  be  cured  of  sin, 
and  of  those  infirmities  out  of  which  so  many  transgressions  spring.”  Amen. 
— Henry  Ward  Beecher  (1813—1887). 

133 


CONSECRATION  MAY  14 

C&ztattz  Zeal  toz  tf\e  dUlorK  ot  C5oti 

fot  tl)t  “For  the  zeal  of  thy  house  hath  eaten  me  up.” — 

Psalm  69.  9'. 

toz  tf)t  i&Dap:  Psalm  1 19.  1 37-141. 

137  Righteous  art  thou,  O  Jehovah, 

And  upright  are  thy  judgments. 

138  Thou  hast  commanded  thy  testimonies  in  righteousness 
And  very  faithfulness. 

139  My  zeal  hath  consumed  me, 

Because  mine  adversaries  have  forgotten  thy  words. 

140  Thy  word  is  very  pure; 

Therefore  thy  servant  loveth  it. 

141  I  am  small  and  despised; 

Yet  do  I  not  forget  thy  precepts. 


“Take,  O  Lord,  and  receive  all  my  liberty,  my  memory,  my  understanding,  and 
my  will,  all  that  I  have  and  possess.  Thou  hast  given  it  to  me;  to  thee,  O  Lord,  I 
restore  it;  all  is  thine,  dispose  of  it  according  to  thy  will.  Give  me  thy  love  and  thy 
grace,  for  this  is  enough  for  me.” — Ignatius  Loyola. 


“Go,  labor  on;  spend  and  be  spent, 

Thy  joy  to  do  the  Father’s  will; 

It  is  the  way  the  Master  went; 

Should  not  the  servant  tread  it  still? 

“Go,  labor  on;  ’tis  not  for  naught; 

Thine  earthly  loss  is  heavenly  gain; 

Men  heed  thee,  love  thee,  praise  thee  not; 

The  Master  praises;  what  are  men? 

“Go,  labor  on;  your  hands  are  weak; 

Your  knees  are  faint,  your  soul  cast  down; 

Yet  falter  not;  the  prize  you  seek 
Is  near — a  kingdom  and  a  crown! 

“Toil  on,  and  in  thy  toil  rejoice: 

For  toil  comes  rest,  for  exile,  home: 

Soon  shalt  thou  hear  the  bridegroom’s  voice, 

The  midnight  peal,  ‘Behold,  I  come.’  ” 

— Horatius  Bonar. 


Reaper  tor  tjr  SDap:  “  O  most  merciful  Father,  we  confess  that  we  have 
done  little  to  forward  thy  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  to  advance  thy  glory. 
We  would  humble  ourselves  before  thee  for  our  past  neglects,  and  seek  for 
thy  forgiveness.  Pardon  our  shortcomings.  Give  us  greater  zeal  for  thy 
glory.  Make  us  more  ready  and  more  diligent  by  our  prayers,  by  our  aims, 
and  by  our  examples,  to  spread  abroad  the  knowledge  of  thy  truth,  and  to 
enlarge  the  boundaries  of  thy  kingdom.  May  the  love  of  Christ  constrain 
us,  and  may  we  do  all  to  thy  glory;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. 
— Walsham  How  (1823-1897). 


T34 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  15 

lettuce 


$tt£t  tot  tj)t  SDOgt  “Whatsoever  ye  do,  work  heartily,  as  unto  the 
Lord,  and  not  unto  men.” — Colossians  3.  23. 

JLt$$on  tot  tfje&mp;  2  Chronicles  29.  1-3;  31.  20,  21. 

1  Hezekiah  began  to  reign  when  he  was  five  and  twenty  years 
old;  and  he  reigned  nine  and  twenty  years  in  Jerusalem:  and  his 
mother’s  name  was  Abijah,  the  daughter  of  Zechariah.  2  And  he 
did  that  which  was  right  in  the  eyes  of  Jehovah,  according  to  all 
that  David  his  father  had  done.  3  He  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign, 
in  the  first  month,  opened  the  doors  of  the  house  of  Jehovah,  and 
repaired  them. 

31.  20  And  thus  did  Hezekiah  throughout  all  Judah;  and  he 
wrought  that  which  was  good  and  right  and  faithful  before  Jeho¬ 
vah  his  God.  21  And  in  every  work  that  he  began  in  the  service 
of  the  house  of  God,  and  in  the  law,  and  in  the  commandments, 
to  seek  his  God,  he  did  it  with  all  his  heart,  and  prospered. 


“Never  shrink  from  deep  devotion,  because  you  fear  its  trials  or  its  sacrifices. 
Paul,  in  martyrdom,  was  unspeakably  happier  than  God’s  half-hearted  servants.” 
— William  R.  Huntington. 


“Every  position,  great  or  small,  may  be  made  almost  as  great  or  as  little  as  we 
design  to  make  it,  according  as  we  make  the  most  of  it  or  the  least  of  it.  To  do  the 
necessary  duties  of  any  station,  that  is  easy  enough;  but  to  gather  up  all  its  outlying 
opportunities,  to  be  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  here,  to  give  a  kind  word  and  a  wise 
counsel  there;  to  fill,  as  we  say,  ‘our  place  in  life’  instead  of  leaving  it  half  empty;  to  be 
entirely  in  our  work  for  the  time  being — this  is  what  makes  all  the  difference.” — Arthur 
P.  Stanley. 

iPtftptt  fot  tf )t  “O  God,  who  has  commanded  that  no  man  should 

be  idle,  give  us  grace  to  employ  all  our  talents  and  faculties  in  the  service 
appointed  for  us,  that,  whatsoever  our  hand  findeth  to  do,  we  may  do  it 
with  our  might.  Cheerfully  may  we  go  in  the  road  which  thou  hast  marked 
out,  not  desiring  too  earnestly  that  it  should  be  either  more  smooth  or  more 
wide;  but,  daily  seeking  our  way  by  thy  light,  may  we  trust  ourselves  and 
the  issue  of  our  journey  to  thee  the  fountain  of  joy,  and  sing  songs  of  praise 
as  we  go  along.  Then,  O  Lord,  receive  us  at  the  gate  of  life  which  thou 
hast  opened  for  us  in  Christ  Jesus.”  Amen. — Martineau  s  Common  Prayers , 


135 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  16 


tfje  St?og»t  ot 

fOt  tf)£  SDCip ♦  “Consecrate  yourselves  to-day  to  Jehovah.” — 
Exodus  32.  29. 

3teg»js»on  for  tfjeSDap;  Hebreivs  3.  12—15. 

12  Take  heed,  brethren,  lest  haply  there  shall  be  in  any  one 
of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  in  falling  away  from  the  living 
God:  13  but  exhort  one  another  day  by  day,  so  long  as  it  is  called 
To-day;  lest  any  one  of  you  be  hardened  by  the  deceitfulness  of 
sin:  14  for  we  are  become  partakers  of  Christ,  if  we  hold  fast  the 
beginning  of  our  confidence  firm  unto  the  end:  15  while  it  is  said, 
To-day  if  ye  shall  hear  his  voice, 

Harden  not  your  hearts,  as  in  the  provocation. 


“Put  out  of  your  thoughts  the  past  whatever  it  may  be;  let  go  even  the  future  with 
its  golden  dream  and  its  high  ideal,  and  concentrate  your  soul  in  this  burning,  present 
moment.  For  the  man  who  is  true  to  the  present  is  true  to  his  best,  and  the  soul  that 
wins  the  ground  immediately  before  it  makes  life  a  triumph.” — Ozora  Stearns  Davis. 


“Forenoon,  and  afternoon,  and  night — forenoon, 
And  afternoon,  and  night — Forenoon,  and — what! 
The  empty  song  repeats  itself.  No  more? 

Yea,  that  is  Life:  Make  this  forenoon  sublime, 
This  afternoon  a  psalm,  this  night  a  prayer, 

And  time  is  conquered  and  thy  crown  is  won. 


— E.  R.  Sill. 


Ptaptt  fOt  tf)C  ^a#t  Almighty  Father,  unto  whom  all  souls  belong,  we 
come  as  thy  children  to  worship  thee  and  give  thee  thanks.  We  know  not 
what  a  day  may  bring  forth :  we  only  know  that  the  hour  for  serving  thee 
is  always  present  and  that  now  is  the  accepted  time.  Help  us  that  we  may 
make  the  most  of  this  day,  knowing  that  the  present  is  the  only  time  in  which 
we  may  ever  serve  thee.  Yesterday  is  gone  and  to-morrow  never  comes;  help  us 
that  in  the  living  present  we  may  do  thy  will.  Encourage  in  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  every  good  resolve,  and  strengthen  us  to  do  the  right.  Give  us  grace 
to  overcome  the  sin  that  doth  so  easily  beset  us.  Let  no  unhallowed  words 
pollute  the  tongues  which  thou  hast  made  to  praise  and  bless  thee,  no  evil 
action  defile  the  bodies  which  thou  hast  taught  us  are  the  temples  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  From  idleness  and  carelessness,  from  vanity  and  a  too  great 
love  of  praise,  from  evil  thoughts  and  angry  words  deliver  and  save  us,  O 
Lord,  our  God.  Help  us  to  render  thee  a  loving  service  with  a  willing 
mind.  May  we  rejoice  to  do  what  thou  wouldst  have  us  to  do,  and  may  it 
be  done  heartily  as  to  the  Lord  and  not  to  men.  Let  thy  loving-kindness 
lead  us  forth  into  the  paths  of  righteousness  and  service,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 


136 


CONSECRATION  MAY  17 

string  a  Spiritual  JLite 


(Ot  tf)£  ^a#J  .  .  .  We  .  .  .  pray  .  .  .  that  ye 

may  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  his  will  in  all  spiritual  wisdom  and 
understanding,  to  walk  worthily  of  the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing,  bearing 
fruit  in  every  good  work,  and  increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  God.” — 
Colossians  1.  9,  10. 

JLt$$0rt  fot  t f)t  SDap:  Romans  8.  5-1 1. 

5  For  they  that  are  after  the  flesh  mind  the  things  of  the  flesh; 
but  they  that  are  after  the  Spirit  the  things  of  the  Spirit.  6  For 
the  mind  of  the  flesh  is  death;  but  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  is  life 
and  peace:  7  because  the  mind  of  the  flesh  is  enmity  against  God; 
for  it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  it  be: 
8  and  they  that  are  in  the  flesh  cannot  please  God.  9  But  ye  are 
not  in  the  flesh  but  in  the  Spirit,  if  so  be  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
dwelleth  in  you.  But  if  any  man  hath  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  he 
is  none  of  his.  10  And  if  Christ  is  in  you,  the  body  is  dead  because 
of  sin;  but  the  spirit  is  life  because  of  righteousness,  n  But  if 
the  Spirit  of  him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from  the  dead  dwelleth  in 
you,  he  that  raised  up  Christ  Jesus  from  the  dead  shall  give  life 
also  to  your  mortal  bodies  through  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  in 
you. 


“God  be  praised  to-day!  From  God  he  came;  with  God  he  walked;  God’s  world 
he  loved;  God’s  children  he  helped;  God’s  church  he  led;  God’s  blessed  Son  he  followed; 
God’s  nearness  he  enjoyed;  with  God  he  dwells.’’ — Arthur  Brooks’  tribute  to  his  brother , 
Phillips  Brooks. 


“True  Christianity  ennobles  all  who  possess  it,  and  makes  even  inferior  minds  and 
characters  to  glow  as  with  sacred  fire,  and  this  alone  will  help  you  to  become  what  it  is 
certain  you  wish  to  be — true-hearted,  useful  and  happy.” — Marianne  Farningham. 

“With  all  the  infinite  possibilities  of  spiritual  life  before  you,  do  not  settle  down 
on  a  little  patch  of  dusty  ground  at  the  mountain’s  foot  in  restful  content.  Be  not 
content  until  you  reach  the  mountain’s  summit.” — J.  R.  Miller. 

foj;  ff)t  “Shine  into  our  hearts,  O  loving  Master,  by  the 

pure  light  of  the  knowledge  of  thyself,  and  open  the  eyes  of  our  mind  to 
the  contemplation  of  thy  teaching,  and  put  into  us  the  fear  of  thy  blessed 
Commandments,  that ,  trampling  down  all  that  is  worldly ,  we  may  follow 
a  spiritual  life ,  thinking  and  doitig  all  things  according  to  thy  good  pleasure. 
For  thou  art  our  sanctification  and  our  illumination,  and  to  thee  we  render 
glory,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  now  and  ever,  and  unto  ages  of  ages.” 
Amen. — Eastern  Church  Liturgy ;  Daybreak  Office,  Third  Century. 


13  7 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  18 


fejutttttaUsmg  flDut  Social  Contacts 

C?£tj3r£  (Ot  tf)t  SDa#;  “I  long  to  see  you,  that  I  may  impart  unto  you 
some  spiritual  gift.” — Romans  i.  n. 

Heggonfott&eSDap:  Luke  10.38-42. 

38  Now  as  they  went  on  their  way,  he  entered  into  a  certain 
village :  and  a  certain  woman  named  Martha  received  him  into  her 
house.  39  And  she  had  a  sister  called  Mary,  who  also  sat  at  the 
Lord’s  feet,  and  heard  his  word.  40  But  Martha  was  cumbered 
about  much  serving;  and  she  came  up  to  him,  and  said,  Lord,  dost 
thou  not  care  that  my  sister  did  leave  me  to  serve  alone?  bid  her 
therefore  that  she  help  me.  41  But  the  Lord  answered  and  said 
unto  her,  Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  anxious  and  troubled  about  many 
things:  42  but  one  thing  is  needful:  for  Mary  hath  chosen  the 
good  part,  which  shall  not  be  taken  away  from  her. 


“The  main  business  of  life  is  seeing  folks.  In  city  and  in  village  and  in  country 
the  same  law  of  life  holds.  Life  consists  in  social  contacts,  and  every  moment  of  life 
is  a  link  in  the  endless  process  of  seeing  folks.  Social  contact  ends  either  in  the  enrich¬ 
ment  or  the  impoverishment  of  the  mind  and  the  heart.  In  this  unceasing  helter-skelter, 
hurly-burly  process  of  seeing  folks  which  we  call  life  it  is  the  motive  in  your  own  soul 
which  determines  whether  you  are  a  menace  or  a  ministering  angel,  an  iconoclast  or  a 
princely  builder  of  humanity.  .  .  .  Make  it  the  rule  of  your  life  never  to  come  into 
touch  with  any  person  without  giving  him  a  little  gift  out  of  the  spiritual  and  you  have 
contributed  in  the  most  significant  manner  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  world.  You  give  a 
man  a  coat  and  you  have  one  coat  less.  But  you  give  him  a  new  idea,  a  new  hope,  a 
new  enthusiasm,  a  new  grip  on  God,  and  you  multiply  the  treasures  of  your  own  life. 
Your  giving  has  made  you  great.  The  way  of  spiritual  evangelism  is  the  only  way  of 
your  own  spiritual  redemption.” — John  Bayne  Ascham. 


t0t  tl )Z  O  God,  our  Father,  who  lovest  us  with  an  ever¬ 

lasting  love,  we  praise  thee  for  thy  great  and  abiding  goodness  to  us  and  our 
home.  We  bless  thee  for  our  many  family  joys,  and  chiefly  for  the  love  that 
knits  us  together  in  peace  and  joy.  May  no  selfish  or  thoughtless  conduct 
ever  mar  the  harmony  of  our  home  life.  We  thank  thee  too  for  our  friend¬ 
ships  and  the  joys  of  intercourse  with  our  fellow  men.  May  it  be  our  rule 
of  life  unto  whomsoever  we  meet  in  our  daily  round  to  impart  some  spiritual 
gift.  Aid  us,  we  pray  thee,  that  we  may  cultivate  the  spirit  of  sympathy 
that  wins  friends  and  binds  them  in  sure  bonds.  Save  us  from  the  cruel 
folly  of  jealousy;  save  us  from  the  dark  sin  of  envy.  Deliver  us  from  all 
gloomy  and  selfish  thoughts.  Grant  us  the  peace  of  self-forgetfulness,  the 
joy  of  losing  ourselves  in  caring  for  others.  Enlarge  our  hearts,  we  beseech 
thee;  and  give  us  the  mind  of  Christ,  who  was  rich  and  for  our  sakes  became 
poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty  might  be  made  rich.  Hear  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  in  his  name.  Amen. 


138 


CONSECRATION  MAY  19 

Peking  jfutft  tf)e  I&tng&ont  ot  C3oti 


$EE;Srt  fOE  t f)E  SDft#}  “But  seek  ye  first  his  kingdom,  and  his  righteous¬ 
ness;  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you.” — Matthew  6.  33. 

fDEtjjeSDap:  Matthew  5.  6,  10-16,  20. 

6  Blessed  are  they  that  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness; 
for  they  shall  be  filled. 

10  Blessed  are  they  that  have  been  persecuted  for  righteous¬ 
ness’  sake:  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  11  Blessed  are 
ye  when  men  shall  reproach  you,  and  persecute  you,  and  say  all 
manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake.  12  Rejoice,  and 
be  exceeding  glad:  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven:  for  so 
persecuted  they  the  prophets  who  were  before  you. 

13  Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth:  but  if  the  salt  have  lost  its 
savor,  wherewith  shall  it  be  salted?  it  is  thenceforth  good  for 
nothing,  but  to  be  cast  out  and  trodden  under  foot  of  men.  14  Ye 
are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city  set  on  a  hill  cannot  be  hid. 
15  Neither  do  men  light  a  lamp,  and  put  it  under  the  bushel,  but 
on  the  stand;  and  it  shineth  unto  all  that  are  in  the  house.  16  Even 
so  let  your  light  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good 
works,  and  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in  heaven. 

20  For  I  say  unto  you,  that  except  your  righteousness  shall 
exceed  the  righteousness  of  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye  shall  in 
no  wise  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

“Behold  Christianity  in  its  native  form,  as  delivered  by  its  great  Author!  This 
is  the  genuine  religion  of  Jesus  Christ!  .  .  .  How  venerable,  how  lovely  the  holiness! 
This  is  the  spirit  of  religion:  the  quintessence  of  it.  These  are  indeed  the  fundamentals 
of  Christianity.” — John  Wesley. 

“Rise  up,  O  men  of  God! 

Have  done  with  lesser  things; 

Give  heart  and  soul  and  mind  and  strength 
To  serve  the  King  of  kings. 

“Rise  up,  O  men  of  God! 

His  kingdom  tarries  long: 

Bring  in  the  day  of  brotherhood 
And  end  the  night  of  wrong. 

“Lift  high  the  cross  of  Christ! 

Tread  where  his  feet  have  trod: 

As  brothers  of  the  Son  of  man. 

Rise  up,  O  men  of  God!  — William  P.  Merrill. 

PtagtE  tOE  tl)E  O  Lord,  who  hast  promised  a  blessing  to  those  who 

first  seek  thy  kingdom  and  righteousness,  enlighten,  we  pray  thee,  our  hearts, 
that  we  be  not  entangled  among  the  things  of  this  world.  Teach  us,  as 
those  who  are  risen  with  thee,  so  to  set  our  affections  on  things  above  that 
our  life  even  now  may  be  truly  hid  with  thee,  O  Christ,  in  God.  Show  us, 
O  Lord,  the  path  of  life,  the  fullness  of  joy  in  thy  holy  presence,  that  we  may 
set  thee  alway  before  us,  and  have  no  good  beyond  thee,  the  true  portion  of 
our  inheritance  and  our  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

139 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  20 


>e  JfuUitejSiS  of  tf)f  fepmt 

JPettfe  tot  tj )e  2Dap:  “I  will  put  my  Spirit  within  you,  and  cause  you  to 
walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep  mine  ordinances,  and  do  them.” — 
Ezekiel  36.  27. 

JLe&$OntOlti)t%Day:  Ephesians  3.  14-19. 

14  For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father,  15  from 
whom  every  family  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is  named,  16  that  he 
would  grant  you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  that  ye  may 
be  strengthened  with  power  through  his  Spirit  in  the  inward  man; 
17  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  through  faith;  to  the  end 
that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  18  may  be  strong  to 
apprehend  with  all  the  saints  what  is  the  breadth  and  length  and 
height  and  depth,  19  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ  which  passeth 
knowledge,  that  ye  may  be  filled  unto  all  the  fullness  of  God. 


“Eternal  Spirit!  by  whose  power 
Are  burst  the  bands  of  death, 

On  our  cold  hearts  thy  blessing  shower, 

Revive  them  with  thy  breath. 

“’Tis  thine  to  bring  God’s  sacred  Word, 

And  write  it  on  our  heart; 

There  its  reviving  truths  record, 

And  there  its  peace  impart. 

“Almighty  Spirit!  visit  thus 

Our  hearts,  and  guide  our  ways; 

Pour  down  thy  quickening  grace  on  us, 

And  tune  our  lips  to  praise.” 

— William  H.  Bathurst. 


“Have  you  never  stood  by  some  arm  of  the  sea  which  penetrates  far  inland,  and  seen 
its  emptiness  and  ugliness?  There  is  only  the  oozy,  miry  bed  of  the  creek;  the  blue  line 
of  ocean  is  far  away  on  the  horizon.  There  is  no  human  power  by  which  it  can  be  filled 
with  water.  The  little  streams  from  the  hillside  could  never  fill  the  thousand  empty 
indentations  in  our  coast.  But  the  great  unquiet  ocean  begins  to  creep  in.  It  sprea'ds 
slowly  over  the  flat  bottom,  and  winds  into  every  bend  of  the  shore,  and  fills  every 
crevice  of  the  rocks;  it  covers  the  long  grasses,  it  drives  you  back  step  by  step;  it  surges 
in  lifting  itself  with  quiet  strength,  until  the  little  gulf  is  filled  to  the  brim,  and  the  bow¬ 
ing  billows  come  over  the  surface,  and  the  ships  are  lifted  from  their  beds  and  sail  away 
to  their  appointed  havens.  The  inlet  is  full;  it  is  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  the  ocean, 
and  with  its  mighty  power.  So  we  are  empty  till  we  are  filled  with  the  power  of  God.” 
— George  Harris. 


(OE  tl)t  “Pour  upon  us  this  day,  O  Lord,  thy  Holy  Spirit. 

Spirit  of  illumination,  Spirit  of  courage,  Spirit  of  aspiration,  Spirit  of  love, 
Spirit  of  human  brotherhood,  Spirit  of  great  Christlike  yearning  for  the 
souls  of  men,  Spirit  of  vision  to  see  the  whole  round  world  waiting  to  be 
laid  at  the  feet  of  our  divine  Lord,  Spirit  of  faith,  Spirit  of  power — O  God 
send  all  upon  us  to-day  in  the  plenitude  of  thine  own  powers,  for  thine 
own  sake.”  Amen. — Thomas  Nicholson  (b.  1862). 

140 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  21 


Being  WL&cb  of  C5oti 

fOC  tf)£  iSDftpt  “Now  therefore  go,  and  I  will  be  with  thy  mouth, 
and  teach  thee  what  thou  shalt  speak.” — Exodus  4.  12. 

%e$#on  for  tfie  SDap;  Jeremiah  1.  4,  5b,  6— 10. 

4  Now  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto  me,  saying,  5  ...  I 
have  appointed  thee  a  prophet  unto  the  nations.  6  Then  said  I, 
Ah,  Lord  Jehovah!  behold,  I  know  not  how  to  speak;  for  I  am 
a  child.  7  But  Jehovah  said  unto  me,  Say  not,  I  am  a  child;  for 
to  whomsoever  I  shall  send  thee  thou  shalt  go,  and  whatsoever  I 
shall  command  thee  thou  shalt  speak.  8  Be  not  afraid  because 
of  them;  for  I  am  with  thee  to  deliver  thee,  saith  Jehovah.  9  Then 
Jehovah  put  forth  his  hand,  and  touched  my  mouth;  and  Jehovah 
said  unto  me,  Behold,  I  have  put  my  words  in  thy  mouth:  10  see, 
I  have  this  day  set  thee  over  the  nations  and  over  the  kingdoms, 
to  pluck  up  and  to  break  down  and  to  destroy  and  to  overthrow, 
to  build  and  to  plant. 


“One  small  life  in  God’s  great  plan, 

How  futile  it  seems  as  the  ages  roll, 

Do  what  it  may,  or  strive  how  it  can, 

To  alter  the  sweep  of  the  infinite  whole!  .  .  . 

But  the  pattern  is  rent  where  the  stitch  is  lost, 

Or  marred  where  the  tangled  threads  have  crossed; 

And  each  life  that  fails  of  its  true  intent 
Mars  the  perfect  plan  that  its  Master  meant. 

— Susan  Coolidge. 


“Some  say  that  the  age  of  chivalry  is  past.  The  age  of  chivalry  is  never  past,  so 
long  as  there  is  a  wrong  left  unredressed  on  earth,  or  a  man  or  woman  left  to  say,  ‘I  will 
redress  that  wrong,  or  spend  my  life  in  the  attempt.’  The  age  of  chivalry  is  never  past, 
so  long  as  we  have  faith  enough  to  say,  ‘God  will  help  me  to  redress  that  wrong;  or,  if 
not  me,  he  will  help  those  that  come  after  me,  for  his  eternal  will  is  to  overcome  evil 
with  good.’  ’’ — Charles  Kingsley 


y&txlVtZ  f0t  tf)t  “Use  us  then,  our  Saviour,  for  whatever  purpose, 

and  in  whatever  way,  thou  mayest  require.  Here  are  our  poor  hearts, 
empty  vessels:  fill  them  with  thy  grace.  Here  are  our  sinful  and  troubled 
souls;  quicken  them  and  refresh  them  with  thy  love.  Take  our  hearts  for 
thine  abode;  our  mouths  to  spread  abroad  the  glory  of  thy  name;  our  love 
and  all  our  powers  for  the  advancement  of  thy  believing  people;  and  never 
suffer  the  steadfastness  and  confidence  of  our  faith  to  abate — that  so  at  all 
times  we  may  be  enabled  from  the  heart  to  say,  ‘Jesus  needs  us,  and  we 
him.’”  Amen. — D.  L.  Moody  (1837—1899). 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  22 


^Diligence  m  SDailp  CZliPtfe 

(Ot  tf)t  2Da#t  “And  let  us  not  be  weary  in  well-doing:  for  in  due 
season  we  shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not. — Galatians  6.  9. 

JLt$&on  for  tl)e  2Dag:  Proverbs  6.  6 — 1 1 . 

6  Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard; 

Consider  her  ways,  and  be  wise: 

7  Which  having  no  chief, 

Overseer,  or  ruler, 

8  Provideth  her  bread  in  the  summer, 

And  gathereth  her  food  in  the  harvest. 

9  How  long  wilt  thou  sleep,  O  sluggard? 

When  wilt  thou  arise  out  of  thy  sleep? 

10  Vet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber, 

A  little  folding  of  the  hands  to  sleep: 

11  So  shall  thy  poverty  come  as  a  robber, 

And  thy  want  as  an  armed  man. 

“To  live  well  in  one’s  place  in  the  world,  adorning  one’s  calling,  however  lowly, 
giving  oneself  with  diligence  to  the  daily  task,  and  dwelling  in  love  and  unselfishness 
with  all  men,  is  to  live  grandly.  To  fight  well  the  battle  with  one’s  own  lusts  and  tem¬ 
pers,  and  to  be  victorious  in  the  midst  of  the  temptations  and  provocations  of  daily 
life,  is  to  be  a  Christian  hero.” — J.  R.  Miller. 

“Is  it  the  work  that  makes  life  great  and  true? 

Or  the  true  soul  that,  working  as  it  can, 

Does  faithfully  the  task  it  has  to  do, 

And  keepeth  faith  alike  with  God  and  man.” — W.  C.  Smith. 

“Nothing  to  do  in  this  world  of  ours, 

Where  weeds  spring  up  with  the  fairest  flowers, 

Where  smiles  have  only  a  fitful  play, 

And  hearts  are  breaking  every  day. 

“Nothing  to  do!  Thou  Christian  soul, 

Wrapping  thee  ’round  in  thy  selfish  stole. 

Off  with  the  garments  of  sloth  and  sin, 

Christ,  thy  Lord,  hath  a  kingdom  to  win.” 

(0t  t! )t  O  Lord  our  God,  by  thy  renewed  kindness  unto 

us  thou  hast  put  a  new  song  into  our  mouth,  even  praise  unto  our  God. 
We  thank  thee  for  our  daily  bread,  for  our  safety  and  preservation,  for 
the  strength  for  our  daily  labor,  and  for  the  measure  of  success  which 
thou  hast  granted  to  the  work  of  our  hands.  Help  us,  our  Father,  that 
we  may  not  be  weary  in  well  doing;  that  we  may  be  diligent  in  labor,  and 
that  we  may  seek  in  all  that  we  do  to  please  thee.  Let  us  not  prefer  our 
own  ease  or  worldly  comfort,  when  thou  dost  claim  our  service.  Help  us 
to  encourage  one  another  in  every  self-denying  work  for  thee  and  thy  cause. 
Let  none  of  our  number  hold  back  or  turn  aside;  but  let  us  all  go  hand  in 
hand  in  our  covenant  of  love  and  service,  to  be  faithful  witnesses  for  him 
who  hath  given  himself  for  us.  O  Lord,  quicken  us  after  thy  loving-kind¬ 
ness,  that  we  keep  thy  testimonies.  In  the  name  of  Christ  our  Saviour.  Amen. 

142 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  23 

SDrbotion  to  IRtffSt 


$£££»£  tOC  tj )C  SDftgi  “Abhor  that  which  is  evil;  cleave  to  that  which  is 
good.” — Romans  12.  9. 

2U££on  tor  tjjeSDa#:  Romans  2.  4— 11. 

4  Or  despisest  thou  the  riches  of  his  goodness  and  forbearance 
and  long-suffering,  not  knowing  that  the  goodness  of  God  leadeth 
thee  to  repentance?  5  but  after  thy  hardness  and  impenitent  heart 
treasurest  up  for  thyself  wrath  in  the  day  of  wrath  and  revelation 
of  the  righteous  judgment  of  God^  6  who  will  render  to  every  man 
according  to  his  works:  7  to  them  that  by  patience  in  well-doing 
seek  for  glory  and  honor  and  incorruption,  eternal  life:  8  but  unto 
them  that  are  factious,  and  obey  not  the  truth,  but  obey  unright¬ 
eousness,  shall  be  wrath  and  indignation,  9  tribulation  and  anguish, 
upon  every  soul  of  man  that  worketh  evil,  of  the  Jew  first,  and 
also  of  the  Greek;  10  but  glory  and  honor  and  peace  to  every  man 
that  worketh  good,  to  the  Jew  first,  and  also  to  the  Greek:  11  for 
there  is  no  respect  of  persons  with  God. 


“If  any  man  convince  me  and  bring  home  to  me  that  I  do  not  think  or  act  aright, 
gladly  will  I  change;  for  I  search  after  truth,  by  which  man  never  yet  was  harmed. 
But  he  is  harmed  who  abideth  on  still  in  his  deception  and  ignorance.” — Marcus  Aure¬ 
lius. 


“The  child  that  speaks  truth  for  the  sake  of  the  praise  of  truth  is  not  truthful.  A 
man  who  is  honest  because  honesty  is  the  best  policy  has  not  integrity  in  his  heart.  He 
who  endeavors  to  be  humble  and  holy  and  perfect  in  order  to  win  heaven  has  only  a 
counterfeit  religion.  God  for  his  own  sake,  goodness  because  it  is  good,  truth  because 
it  is  lovely — this  is  the  Christian’s  aim.  The  prize  is  only  an  incentive.” — Frederick  IV. 
Robertson.  •  ' 

/ 


for  tj) t  jSDft#!  O  God,  our  Father,  we  thank  thee  that  thy  right 
hand  is  strong  to  uphold  all  them  that  put  their  trust  in  thee.  Beget  within 
our  hearts,  we  pray  thee,  a  love  for  that  which  is  true  and  right.  May  we 
love  righteousness  and  abhor  iniquity.  May  we  put  away  from  us  all  policy 
and  cunning,  and  all  spirit  of  compromise  for  the  sake  of  selfish  gain.  May 
we  be  sincerely  devoted  to  the  right,  desiring  o?ily  to  know  the  right  in  order 
to  do  it.  Come  to  our  aid  in  the  hour  of  temptation  to  strengthen  the  good 
and  to  drive  from  our  hearts  all  inclinations  to  evil.  May  every  day  wit¬ 
ness  new  victories  over  evil  desires  and  passions  within,  and  over  the  evil 
that  is  in  the  world.  Bless  our  state  and  nation :  may  the  time  come  when 
our  people  shall  all  be  righteous  and  the  Spirit  of  God  rule  in  all  hearts.  In 
Jesus’  name.  Amen. 


143 


CONSECRATION  MAY  24 

OOotfuno;  Ofllttf)  £>ue  St?iQ;!)t 


PttgiE  fOE  tf)t  “Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with 

thy  might.”; — Ecclesiastes  9.  10. 

for  tfjeSDap:  Proverbs  13.  4,  7>  II ;  Colossiajis  3.  22—24. 

4  The  soul  of  the  sluggard  desireth,  and  hath  nothing; 

But  the  soul  of  the  diligent  shall  be  made  fat. 

7  There  is  that  maketh  himself  rich,  yet  hath  nothing: 

There  is  that  maketh  himself  poor,  yet  hath  great  wealth. 

11  Wealth  gotten  by  vanity  shall  be  diminished; 

But  he  that  gathereth  by  labor  shall  have  increase. 

3.  22  Servants,  obey  in  all  things  them  that  are  your  masters 
according  to  the  flesh;  not  with  eye-service,  as  men-pleasers,  but 
in  singleness  of  heart,  fearing  the  Lord:  23  whatsoever  ye  do,  work 
heartily,  as  unto  the  Lord,  and  not  unto  man;  24  knowing  that  from 
the  Lord  ye  shall  receive  the  recompense  of  the  inheritance:  ye 
serve  the  Lord  Christ. 

“To  look  at  the  Light, 

To  keep  my  thoughts  white, 

To  fight  the  great  fight; 

To  do  with  my  might 
What  is  good  in  God’s  sight; 

To  follow  the  Christ,  the  King.” 

— John  Oxenham. 


“He  who  believes  is  strong;  he  who  doubts  is  weak.  Strong  convictions  precede 
great  actions.  The  man  strongly  possessed  of  an  idea  is  the  master  of  all  who  are  un¬ 
certain  or  wavering.  Clear,  deep  living  convictions  rule  the  world.” — James  Freeman 
Clarke » 


PEft^EE  fOC  tf)E  SDO#*  “Preserve  us  blameless,  O  Lord,  in  our  goings  out 
and  comings  in  this  day.  Fill  us  with  the  simplicity  of  a  divine  purpose, 
that  we  may  be  inwardly  at  one  with  thy  holy  will  and  lifted  above  vain 
wishes  of  our  own.  Set  free  from  every  detaining  desire  or  reluctance,  may 
we  heartily  surrender  all  our  powers  to  the  work  which  thou  hast  given  us 
to  do ;  rejoicing  in  any  toil  and  fainting  under  no  hardness  that  may  befall 
us  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ;  and  counting  it  as  our  crown  of  blessing 
if  we  may  join  the  company  of  the  faithful  who  have  kept  thy  name  and 
witnessed  to  thy  kingdom  in  every  age.  Prepare  us  to  seek  our  rest,  not  in 
outward  ease,  but  in  inward  devotedness:  only  fulfill  to  us  the  word  of  the 
Chief  of  Saints;  leave  us  his  peace,  while  we  remain  here,  and  then  receive 
us  unto  thyself,  to  mingle  with  the  mighty  company  of  our  forerunners.”  . 
Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805—1900). 


144 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  25 

l&eHffion  m  t Se  jfamilg 


(Ot  tf)t  SDa^t  “As  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve  Jehovah.” 

— Joshua  24.  15. 

fot  tl)t  SDfl#:  Deuteronomy  6.  4,  5;  II.  18-21. 

4  Hear,  O  Israel:  Jehovah  our  God  is  one  Jehovah:  5  and  thou 
shall  love  Jehovah  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
soul,  and  with  all  thy  might. 

18  Therefore  shall  ye  lay  up  these  my  words  in  your  heart 
and  in  your  soul ;  and  ye  shall  bind  them  for  a  sign  upon  your 
hand,  and  they  shall  be  for  frontlets  between  your  eyes.  19  And 
ye  shall  teach  them  your  children,  talking  of  them  when  thou 
sittest  in  thy  house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when 
thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up.  20  And  thou  shalt  write 
them  upon  the  door-posts  of  thy  house,  and  upon  thy  gates;  21  that 
your  days  may  be  multiplied,  and  the  days  of  your  children,  in 
the  land  which  Jehovah  sware  unto  your  fathers  to  give  them,  as 
the  days  of  the  heavens  above  the  earth. 

* 

“The  best  that  parents  can  do  for  their  children  is  to  drill  the  great  chapters  into 
the  minds  of  their  children.  No  parent  has  done  his  duty  until  he  has  firmly  fixed  in 
his  children’s  minds  the  great  essentials  of  the  Christian  faith.” — Newell  Dwight  Hillis . 


“To  make  the  family  a  place  of  permanent  love,  peace,  and  spiritual  beauty  is  now, 
and  always  will  be,  a  great  moral  achievement  and  one  of  the  highest  triumphs  of  per¬ 
sonality.  If  any  one  will  pass  in  review  the  families  he  has  known  intimately,  he  will 
realize  that  religion  is  often  the  decisive  factor  in  the  character  of  a  home.  Every 
Christianized  family  leaves  traditions  in  the  hearts  of  its  children  which  they  will  seek 
to  realize  in  their  own  homes,  and  it  sets  the  standard  a  little  higher  for  all  who  come  in 
contact  with  it.  By  such  precedents  public  opinion  and  custom  are  formed,  and  ulti¬ 
mately  law  follows  custom.  Religion  always  does  its  most  powerful  and  permanent 
social  work  when  it  supports  and  invigorates  the  wholesome  tendencies  in  the  common 
life  of  men.” — Walter  Rauschenbusch. 


“It  concerns  the  nation  that  each  family  be  a  world,  profound,  respected,  commu¬ 
nicating  to  its  members  an  ineffaceable  moral  imprint.  We  who  from  transforming  our 
cities,  our  houses,  our  customs  and  creeds  have  not  where  to  lay  our  heads,  let  us  not 
add  to  the  pathos  and  emptiness  of  our  changeful  existence  by  abandoning  the  life  of 
the  home.  Let  us  light  the  flame  put  out  on  our  hearths,  make  sanctuaries  for  ourselves, 
warm  nests  where  the  children  may  grow  into  men,  where  love  may  find  privacy,  old 
age  repose,  prayer  an  altar,  and  the  fatherland  a  cult.” — Charles  Wagner. 


(Ot  tf)t  “O  thou  of  whom  every  family  in  earth  is  named, 

preserve,  strengthen,  and  sanctify  to  us,  we  beseech  thee,  all  the  bonds  of 
affection  and  fellowship  with  which  thou  hast  girt  our  life;  let  the  love  which 
is  natural  be  molded  and  made  mightier  through  a  deepening  sense  of  thy 
Fatherhood  and  our  brotherhood  with  men  in  Jesus  Christ,  that  lifted  into 
the  community  of  thy  saints,  and  fostered  in  the  family  of  thy  little  ones, 
we  may  draw  near  to  thee  in  him  whose  Spirit  cries  within  us,  Abba, 
Father.”  Amen. 


r45 


CONSECRATION 


MAY  26 


Eibtno:  Jiite  eternal 

Ptt!S?t  (Ot  tf)e  SDiip;  “And  this  is  life  eternal,  that  they  should  know 
thee  the  only  true  God,  and  him  whom  thou  didst  send,  even  Jesus  Christ.” 
— John  17.  3. 

tortljeSDap:  John  17.  n-18. 

11  Holy  Father,  keep  them  in  thy  name  which  thou  hast  given 
me,  that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are.  12  While  I  was  with  them, 
I  kept  them  in  thy  name  which  thou  hast  given  me:  and  I  guarded 
them,  and  not  one  of  them  perished,  but  the  son  of  perdition;  that 
the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled.  13  But  now  I  come  to  thee;  and 
these  things  I  speak  in  the  world,  that  they  may  have  my  joy  made 
full  in  themselves.  14  I  have  given  them  thy  word;  and  the  world 
hated  them,  because  they  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not 
of  the  world.  15  I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them  from 
the  world,  but  that  thou  shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil  one. 
16  They  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world.  17 
Sanctify  them  in  the  truth:  thy  word  is  truth.  18  As  thou  didst 
send  me  into  the  world,  even  so  sent  I  them  into  the  world. 


“Religion  is  living  the  life  eternal  in  the  midst  of  time,  under  the  eyes  and  by  the 
favor  of  God.” 


“There  is  but  one  thing  needful — to  possess  God.  Religion  is  not  a  method:  it 
is  a  life — a  higher  and  supernatural  life,  mystical  in  its  root  and  practical  in  its  fruits; 
a  communion  with  God,  a  calm  and  deep  enthusiasm,  a  love  which  radiates,  a  force 
which  acts,  a  happiness  which  overflows.” — Amiel. 


(Ot  if)t  “Thou,  O  God,  hast  exalted  us  so  that  no  longer 

we  walk  with  prone  head  among  the  animals  that  perish.  Thou  hast  or¬ 
dained  us  as  thine  own  children,  and  hast  planted  within  us  that  spiritual 
life  which  ever  seeks,  as  the  flame,  to  rise  upward  and  mingle  with  thee. 
Every  exaltation,  every  pure  sentiment,  all  urgency  of  pure  affection,  and  all 
yearning  after  things  higher  and  nobler,  are  testimonies  by  which  thou  art 
drawing  us  away  from  sense,  away  from  the  earth,  away  from  things  coarse 
and  unspiritual,  and  toward  the  ineffable.  We  rejoice  that  we  have  in  us 
the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  the  indwelling  of  God.  For  although  we  are 
temples  defiled,  though  we  are  unworthy  of  such  a  Guest,  and  though  we 
perpetually  grieve  thee,  and  drive  thee  away  from  us,  so  that  thou  canst  not 
do  the  mighty  work  that  thou  wouldst  within  us,  yet  we  rejoice  to  believe 
that  thou  dost  linger  near  us.  Thou  art  evermore  striving  to  im¬ 

bue  us  with  thyself,  and  to  give  us  that  divine  nature  which  shall  triumph 
over  time  and  sense  and  matter;  and  we  pray  that  we  may  have  an  enlight¬ 
ened  understanding  of  thy  work  in  us  and  upon  us,  and  work  together  with 
thee.”  Amen. — Henry  Ward.  Beecher  (1813—1887). 


146 


CONSECRATION  MAY  27 

faring  tfie  Sacrifice  of  3|r0ti$> 

WtZ$t  for  tjje  SDftg:  “Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried  our 
sorrows.” — Isaiah  53.  4. 

for  tfie  £Dap:  Isaiah  53.  1-3,  7-10. 

i  Who  hath  believed  our  message?  and  to  whom  hath  the 
arm  of  Jehovah  been  revealed?  2  For  he  grew  up  before  him  as 
a  tender  plant,  and  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground:  he  hath  no  form 
nor  comeliness;  and  when  we  see  him,  there  is  no  beauty  that  we 
should  desire  him.  3  He  was  despised,  and  rejected  of  men;  a 
man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief :  and  as  one  from  whom 
men  hide  their  face  he  was  despised;  and  we  esteemed  him  not. 

7  He  was  oppressed,  yet  when  he  was  afflicted  he  opened  not 
his  mouth;  as  a  lamb  that  is  led  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep 
that  before  its  shearers  is  dumb,  so  he  opened  not  his  mouth.  8 
By  oppression  and  judgment  he  was  taken  away;  and  as  for  his 
generation,  who  among  them  considered  that  he  was  cut  off  out  of 
the  land  of  the  living  for  the  transgression  of  my  people  to  whom 
the  stroke  was  due ?  9  And  they  made  his  grave  with  the  wicked, 

and  with  a  rich  man  in  his  death;  although  he  had  done  no  violence, 
neither  was  any  deceit  in  his  mouth. 

10  Yet  it  pleased  Jehovah  to  bruise  him;  he  hath  put  him  to 
grief:  when  thou  shalt  make  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin,  he  shall 
see  his  seed,  he  shall  prolong  his  days,  and  the  pleasure  of  Jehovah 
shall  prosper  in  his  hand. 

“In  every  nation,  in  every  family,  the  innocent  suffer  for  the  guilty.  Vicarious 
suffering  is  not  arbitrary  or  accidental;  it  comes  with  our  growth;  it  is  of  the  very  nature 
of  things.  It  is  that  part  of  the  service  of  man,  to  which  we  are  all  born,  and  of  the 
reality  of  which  we  daily  grow  more  aware.  Vicarious  suffering  is  not  a  curse.  It  is  a 
service — service  for  God.  It  proves  a  power  where  every  other  moral  force  has  failed. 
By  it  men  are  redeemed  on  whom  justice  and  their  proper  punishment  have  been  able 
to  effect  nothing.  Greater  service  can  no  man  do  to  men  than  to  serve  them  in  this 
way.” — George  Adam  Smith. 

fot  tf)t  SDftJH  “Almighty  God,  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
God  of  mercy  and  of  comfort,  with  humble  confidence  and  reverent  thank¬ 
fulness  do  we  approach  thee.  We  thank  thee  for  the  love  wherewith  thou 
hast  loved  us.  Thy  mercy  is  from  everlasting,  thy  compassions  fail  not.  We 
bless  thee  for  the  gift  of  thy  dear  Son,  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  through 
whose  poverty  we  have  been  made  rich.  We  deplore  our  weakness  and 
sinfulness,  and  desire  that  thou,  who  art  faithful  and  just  to  forgive,  wilt 
accept  our  contrition  and.  penitence.  We  pray  that  thou  wilt  strengthen 
us  that  if  need  be  we  may  be  willing  to  suffer  for  the  good  of  others,  in 
some  small  way  sharing  the  sacrifice  of  lesus.  We  yield  ourselves  in  loving 
obedience  unto  thee,  and  we  pray  that  we  may  be  found  faithful.  May  our 
lives  be  fashioned  in  his  likeness.  O,  we  entreat  thee,  let  our  lives  be  con¬ 
formed  unto  his,  and  as  he  is  so  may  we  be  in  this  world.  Help  us  to  bear 
one  another’s  burdens  and  so  fulfill  the  law  of  Christ.  May  we  receive  not 
the  spirit  of  this  world  but  the  Spirit  which  is  God,  and  may  we  in  all  things 
grow  up  unto  Him  who  is  our  Head,  even  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour.”  Amen. 

147 


CONSECRATION  MAY  28 

Sl?mt£tty  of  3jntetce££ioit 


fOt  tf)E  “I  exhort,  therefore,  first  of  all,  that  supplications, 

prayers,  intercessions,  thanksgivings,  be  made  for  all  men.” — 1  Timothy 

2.  I. 

^£0£»on  for  tl)£2Dap:  Ephesians  1.  15-23. 

15  For  this  cause  I  also,  having  heard  of  the  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  which  is  among  you,  and  the  love  which  ye  show  toward  all 
the  saints,  16  cease  not  to  give  thanks  for  you,  making  mention 
of  you  in  my  prayers;  17  that  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Father  of  glory,  may  give  unto  you  a  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
revelation  in  the  knowledge  of  him;  18  having  the  eyes  of  your 
heart  enlightened,  that  ye  may  know  what  is  the  hope  of  his 
calling,  what  the  riches  of  the  glory  of  his  inheritance  in  the  saints, 

19  and  what  the  exceeding  greatness  of  his  power  to  us-ward 
who  believe,  according  to  that  working  of  the  strength  of  his  might 

20  which  he  wrought  in  Christ,  when  he  raised  him  from  the  dead, 
and  made  him  to  sit  at  his  right  hand  in  the  heavenly  places, 

21  far  above  all  rule,  and  authority,  and  power,  and  dominion,  and 
every  name  that  is  named,  not  only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that 
which  is  to  come:  22  and  he  put  all  things  in  subjection  under  his 
feet,  and  gave  him  to  be  head  over  all  things  to  the  church,  23 
which  is  his  body,  the  fullness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all. 


“I  think  my  soul  was  never  so  drawn  out  in  intercession  for  others  as  it  has  been 
this  night;  I  hardly  ever  so  longed  to  live  to  God,  and  to  be  altogether  devoted  to  him; 
I  wanted  to  wear  out  my  life  for  him.  ...  I  wrestled  for  the  ingathering  of  souls,  for 
multitudes  of  poor  souls,  personally,  in  many  distant  places.  I  was  in  such  an  agony, 
from  sun  half-an-hour  high  till  near  dark,  that  I  was  wet  all  over  with  sweat;  but  O,  my 
dear  Lord  did  sweat  blood  for  such  poor  souls:  I  longed  for  more  compassion.” — David 
Brainerd. 

“To  pray  for  others  is  an  indispensable  duty.  We  cannot  be  Christians  without 
intercessory  prayer.  We  should  be  breaking  a  primary  law  of  love  which  our  Lord  has 
given  us.  He  has  hedged  us  in  by  his  prayer  which  he  gave  us.  We  cannot  say  an 
‘Our  Father’  without  doing  it,  at  least  with  our  lips.  We  must  have  emptied  our 
blessed  Lord’s  prayer  of  its  meaning,  before  we  can  have  ceased  intercessory  prayer. 
We  ask  in  it  for  exactly  the  same  gifts  for  others  as  for  ourselves.” — Edward  B.  Pusey. 

Prayer  (or  tje  2Day:  “  O  Lord,  our  God,  who  hast  bidden  the  light  to 
shine  out  of  darkness,  who  hast  again  wakened  us  to  praise  thy  goodness 
and  ask  for  thy  grace:  accept  thou,  in  thy  endless  mercy,  the  sacrifice  of 
our  worship  and  thanksgiving,  and  grant  unto  us  all  such  requests  as  may 
be  wholesome  for  us.  Make  us  to  be  children  of  the  light  and  of  the  day, 
and  heirs  of  thy  everlasting  inheritance.  Remember,  O  Lord,  according  to 
the  multitude  of  thy  mercies,  thy  whole  church;  all  who  join  with  us  in 
prayer ;  all  our  brethren  by  land  or  sea,  or  wherever  they  may  be  in  thy  vast 
kingdom,  who  stand  in  need  of  thy  grace  and  succor.  Pour  out  upon  them 
the  riches  of  thy  mercy,  so  that  we,  redeemed  in  soul  and  body,  and  steadfast 
in  faith,  may  ever  praise  thy  wonderful  and  holy  name.”  Amen. — Manual 
of  Prayers  of  the  Greek  Church. 


148 


CONSECRATION  MAY  29 

W&t  Appeal  ot  t f\t  (Boe»pel 


$£££>£  Cot  tl )t  HDflJG  “For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel:  for  it  is  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth.” — Romans  1.  16. 

%t$$0n  Cor  tt)Z  2Dap:  2  Corinthians  4.  1-6. 

1  Therefore  seeing  we  have  this  ministry,  even  as  we  obtained 
mercy,  we  faint  not:  2  but  we  have  renounced  the  hidden  things 
of  shame,  not  walking  in  craftiness,  nor  handling  the  word  of  God 
deceitfully;  but  by  the  manifestation  of  the  truth  commending 
ourselves  to  every  man’s  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God.  3  And 
even  if  our  gospel  is  veiled,  it  is  veiled  in  them  that  perish:  4  in 
whom  the  god  of  this  world  hath  blinded  the  minds  of  the  unbe¬ 
lieving,  that  the  light  of  the  gospel  of  the  glory  of  Christ,  who 
is  the  image  of  God,  should  not  dawn  upon  them.  5  For  we  preach 
not  ourselves,  but  Christ  Jesus  as  Lord,  and  ourselves  as  your 
servants  for  Jesus’  sake.  6  Seeing  it  is  God,  that  said,  Light  shall 
shine  out  of  darkness,  who  shined  in  our  hearts,  to  give  the  light 
of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ. 


‘Let  me  point  you  to  a  power  which  even  to-day  can  cope  with  any  emergency: 
Christ,  the  power  of  righteousness.  He  makes  men  right  with  God.  He  places  them 
in  harmony  with  the  eternal,  in  tune  with  the  infinite.  He  takes  the  weary,  wayward 
child  by  the  hand  and  leads  it  back  to  the  Father’s  house.  He  clears  the  conscience  of 
the  awful,  raking,  embittering,  debilitating  consciousness  of  unforgiven  guilt.  He 
gives  peace  to  the  soul,  peace  that  makes  us  calm  and  strong.  He  blots  out  the  record 
of  our  folly  and  sir  and  shame  which  we  wrote  down  upon  the  pages  of  life’s  story.  He 
brings  us  into  fellowship  with  God,  so  that  his  life  becomes  ours  and  our  life  is  wrapped 
up  in  his.”— John  L.  Nuelsen. 


‘‘The  greatest  monuments  of  art  shelter  his  sacred  images;  the  most  magnificent 
ceremonies  assemble  the  people  under  the  influence  of  his  name;  poetry,  music,  painting, 
sculpture,  exhaust  their  resources  to  proclaim  his  glory,  and  to  offer  him  incense  worthy 
of  the  adoration  which  ages  have  consecrated  to  him.  And  yet  upon  what  throne  do 
they  adore  him?  Upon  a  Cross!” — Pire  Lacordaire. 


l&Z&VZt  tot  t!)t  “Our  heavenly  Father,  we  bless  thee  for  the  gospel 

of  Christ  which  appeals,  not  to  the  base,  the  small,  the  selfish  that  there 
is  in  us,  but  to  the  larger  and  nobler  motives.  We  thank  thee  that  Jesus 
Christ  within  us  turns  our  hearts  toward  our  fellow  men.  O  that  we  may 
love  like  thee !  O  that  we  may  have  thy  passion  for  men !  O  that  we  may 
see  the  needs  of  the  world  as  thou  dost  see  them,  and  in  the  very  spirit  of 
our  Master  give  ourselves  to  prayer  and  service,  becoming  all  things  to  all 
men,  if  by  any  means  we  may  save  some.  We  ask  it  in  Jesus’  name.”  Amen. 
Herbert  Welch  (b.  1862). 


149 


CONSECRATION  MAY  30 

3fn  S^emoEiam 

$£E£t  fOE  tf)E  jSDftJH  “And  this  day  shall  be  unto  you  for  a  memorial. ” 

— Exodus  12.  14. 

IU££»0n  for  tfie  2Dap:  Joshua  4.  4-8. 

4  Then  Joshua  called  the  twelve  men,  whom  he  had  prepared 
of  the  children  of  Israel,  out  of  every  tribe  a  man:  5  and  Joshua 
said  unto  them,  Pass  over  before  the  ark  of  Jehovah  your  God 
into  the  midst  of  the  Jordan,  and  take  you  up  every  man  of  you 
a  stone  upon  his  shoulder,  according  unto  the  number  of  the  tribes 
of  the  children  of  Israel;  6  that  this  may  be  a  sign  among  you, 
that,  when  your  children  ask  in  time  to  come,  saying,  What  mean 
ye  by  these  stones?  7  then  ye  shall  say  unto  them,  Because  the 
waters  of  the  Jordan  were  cut  off  before  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
of  Jehovah;  when  it  passed  over  the  Jordan,  the  waters  of  the 
Jordan  were  cut  off:  and  these  stones  shall  be  for  a  memorial  unto 
the  children  of  Israel  forever. 

8  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  so  as  Joshua  commanded,  and 
took  up  twelve  stones  out  of  the  midst  of  the  Jordan,  as  Jehovah 
spake  unto  Joshua,  according  to  the  number  of  the  tribes  of  the 
children  of  Israel;  and  they  carried  them  over  with  them  unto 
the  place  where  they  lodged,  and  laid  them  down  there. 


“There  is  no  death!  the  stars  go  down 
To  rise  upon  some  fairer  shore, 

And  bright  in  heaven’s  jeweled  crown 
They  shine  forever  more. 


And  ever  near  us,  though  unseen, 

The  dear  immortal  spirits  tread; 

For  all  the  boundless  universe 
Is  life — there  are  no  dead.” 

— James  M’Creery. 


tOE  tj)E  “O  Thou  Lord  of  all  worlds,  we  bless  thy  name 

for  all  those  who  have  entered  into  their  rest,  and  reached  the  promised 
land,  where  thou  art  seen  face  to  face.  Give  us  grace  to  follow  in  their 
footsteps,  as  they  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  thy  Holy  Son.  Encourage 
our  wavering  hearts  by  their  example,  and  help  us  to  see  in  them  the  memo¬ 
rials  of  thy  redeeming  grace,  and  pledges  of  the  heavenly  might  in  which  the 
weak  are  made  strong.  Keep  alive  in  us  the  memory  of  all  those  dear  to 
ourselves  whom  thou  hast  called  out  of  this  world,  and  make  it  powerful  to 
subdue  within  us  every  vile  and  unworthy  thought.  Grant  that  every  remem¬ 
brance  which  turns  our  hearts  from  things  seen  to  things  unseen,  may  lead 
us  always  upward  to  thee,  till  we  too  come  to  the  eternal  rest  which  thou 
hast  prepared  for  thy  people;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
F.  J.  A.  Hort  (1828-1892). 


COURAGE 


MAY  31 

Courage  and  fejtrengtf) 


Uet£e  for  tfje  SDa^t  “Watch  ye,  stand  fast  in  the  faith,  quit  you  like 
men,  be  strong.” — 1  Corinthians  16.  13. 

for  tfie  SDap:  Ephesians  6.  10-13. 

10  Finally,  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  strength  of  his 
might.  11  Put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able 
to  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil.  12  For  our  wrestling  is 
not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against  the  principalities,  against 
the  powers,  against  the  world-rulers  of  this  darkness,  against  the 
spiritual  hosts  of  wickedness  in  the  heavenly  places.  13  Wherefore 
take  up  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  withstand 
in  the  evil  day,  and,  having  done  all,  to  stand. 


It  1S  impossible  for  that  man  to  despair  who  remembers  that  his  Helper  is  omnipo¬ 
tent.” — Jeremy  Taylor. 


“I  like  the  man  who  faces  what  he  must 

With  heart  triumphant  and  a  step  of  cheer; 

Who  fights  the  daily  battle  without  fear; 

Sees  his  hopes  fail,  yet  keeps  unfaltering  trust 
That  God  is  God;  that  somehow,  true  and  just, 

His  plans  work  out  for  mortals;  not  a  tear 
Is  shed  wh  en  fortune,  which  the  world  holds  dear, 

Falls  from  his  grasp;  better,  with  love,  a  crust 
Than  living  in  dishonor;  envies  not, 

Nor  loses  faith  in  man;  but  does  his  best, 

Nor  even  murmurs  at  his  humbler  lot; 

But  with  a  smile  and  words  of  hope,  gives  zest 
To  every  toiler;  he  alone  is  great 
Who  by  a  life  heroic  conquers  fate.” 

— Sarah  Knowles  Bolton. 


PtaptE  fOE  tf)E  “Almighty  Father,  thou  art  a  God  afar  off  as  well 

as  nigh  at  hand.  ...  Be  pleased  to  strengthen  us  now,  O  Lord,  to  bear 
our  cross  and  surrender  ourselves  for  duty  and  for  trial  unto  thee. 

Teach  us  that  it  is  far  better  to  die  in  thy  service  than  to  live  for  our  own. 
Rebuke  within  us  all  unmoderate  desires,  all  unquiet  temper,  all  presump¬ 
tuous  expectations,  all  ignoble  self-indulgence,  and,  feeling  on  us  the  embrace 
of  thy  Fatherly  hand,  may  we  meekly  and  with  courage  go  into  the  darkest 
ways  of  our  pilgrimage,  anxious  not  to  change  thy  perfect  will,  but  only  to 
do  and  bear  it  worthily.  May  we  spend  all  our  days  in  thy  presence,  and 
meet  our  death  in  the  strength  of  thy  grace,  and  pass  thence  into  the  nearer 
light  of  thy  knowledge  and  love.”  Amen. — John  Hunter  (b.  1849). 


COURAGE 


JUNE  i 

CSrigttan  Courage 


C?et£e  (or  tf)e  “Stand  fast  in  the  faith,  quit  you  like  men,  be 

strong.” — i  Corinthians  16.  13. 

(or  tfje  2Dap:  Acts  5.  24-29. 

24  Now  when  the  captain  of  the  temple  and  the  chief  priests 
heard  these  words,  they  were  much  perplexed  concerning  them 
whereunto  this  would  grow.  25  And  there  came  one  and  told  them, 
Behold,  the  men  whom  ye  put  in  the  prison  are  in  the  temple 
standing  and  teaching  the  people.  26  Then  went  the  captain  with 
the  officers,  and  brought  them,  but  without  violence;  for.  they 
feared  the  people,  lest  they  should  be  stoned.  27  And  when  they 
had  brought  them,  they  set  them  before  the  council.  And  the 
high  priest  asked  them,  28  saying,  We  strictly  charged  you  not 
to  teach  in  this  name:  and  behold,  ye  have  filled  Jerusalem  with 
your  teaching,  and  intend  to  bring  this  man’s  blood  upon  us.  29  But 
Peter  and  the  apostles  answered  and  said,  We  must  obey  God 
rather  than  men. 


“Gideon  Ousley,  a  Methodist  itinerant  in  Ireland,  was  often  mobbed.  It  was  bis 
custom,  however,  to  hire  the  village  crier  to  announce  his  meetings.  In  a  certain  place 
he  heard  the  man  call  faintly  on  account  of  fear.  Ousley  took  the  bell  out  of  his  hand, 
rang  it  himself,  calling  in  clear  tones,  ‘This  is  to  give  notice  that  Gideon  Ousley,  the 
Irish  missionary,  will  preach  to-night!  And  I  am  the  man  myself!’” — Stephens. 


“Then  to  side  with  Truth  is  noble  when  we  share  her  wretched  crust, 

Ere  her  cause  brings  fame  and  profit,  and  ’ tis  prosperous  to  be  just; 

Then  it  is  the  brave  man  chooses,  while  the  coward  stands  aside, 
Doubting  in  his  abject  spirit,  till  the  Lord  is  crucified, 

And  the  multitude  make  virtue  of  the  faith  they  had  denied.” 

James  Russell  Lowell. 


(Ot  tf)£  SDftJU  “Blessed  Lord,  who  wast  tempted  in  all  things  like 
as  we  are,  have  mercy  upon  our  frailty.  Out  of  weakness  give  us  strength. 
Grant  to  us  thy  fear,  that  we  may  fear  thee  only.  Support  us  in  time  of 
temptation.  Embolden  us  in  the  time  of  danger.  Help  us  to  do  thy  work 
with  good  courage,  and  to  continue  thy  faithful  soldiers  and  servants  unto 
our  life’s  end;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Brooke  Foss 
Westcott  (1825-1901). 


I52 


COURAGE 


JUNE  2 

Coutafftou#  Effort 


t^rrj^t  (or  ttjr  SDtl^t  “Be  strong,  and  let  thy  heart  take  courage.” — 
Psalm  27.  14b. 

fLt$#on  (or  tfjeSDap:  2  Chronicles  32.  5-8. 

5  And  he  took  courage,  and  built  up  all  the  wall  that  was 
broken  down,  and  raised  it  up  to  the  towers,  and  the  other  wall 
without,  and  strengthened  Millo  in  the  city  of  David,  and  made 
weapons  and  shields  in  abundance.  6  And  he  set  captains  of  war 
over  the  people,  and  gathered  them  together  to  him  in  the  broad 
place  at  the  gate  of  the  city,  and  spake  comfortably  to  them,  say¬ 
ing,  7  Be  strong  and  of  good  courage,  be  not  afraid  nor  dismayed 
for  the  king  of  Assyria,  nor  for  all  the  multitude  that  is  with  him: 
for  there  is  a  greater  with  us  than  with  him:  8  with  him  is  an 
arm  of  flesh;  but  with  us  is  Jehovah  our  God  to  help  us,  and  to 
fight  our  battles.  And  the  people  rested  themselves  upon  the  words 
of  Iiezekiah  king  of  Judah. 


“Th  e  law  of  worthy  life  is  fundamentally  the  law  of  strife.  It  is  only  through 
labor,  painful  effort,  by  grim  energy,  and  resolute  courage,  that  we  move  on  to  better 
things.” — Theodore  Roosevelt. 


“It  is  great  to  be  out  where  the  fight  is  strong. 

To  be  where  the  heaviest  troops  belong, 

And  to  fight  there  for  man  and  God. 

Oh,  it  seams  the  face  and  it  tries  the  brain, 

It  strains  the  arms  till  one’s  friend  is  Pain, 

In  the  fight  for  man  and  God. 

But  it’s  great  to  be  out  where  the  fight  is  strong, 

To  be  where  the  heaviest  troops  belong, 

And  to  fight  there  for  man  and  God.” 

— Cleland  B.  McAfee. 


y&Z&ytZ  (Ot  tt)Z  SDftJU  “Almighty  and  eternal  God,  who  fillest  all  space, 
whom  nevertheless  no  space  can  contain ;  from  thee,  as  the  source  of  all  things, 
we  have  our  being;  to  thee,  as  the  end  of  all  things,  we  draw  near.  We 
acknowledge  that  every  good  and  perfect  gift  is  from  above.  May  thy 
blessing,  therefore,  descend  upon  us  thy  servants  who  apply  ourselves  to  our 
work  or  studies;  inspire  us  in  our  enterprises,  help  on  our  endeavors,  pro¬ 
mote  our  designs,  purify  our  minds  that  yearn  to  know  themselves  and  thee. 
Be  present  with  us  and  direct  such  works  as  we  undertake  in  dependence  on 
thee  and  devote  to  thy  honor.  O  Father  of  lights,  give  us  discernment  to 
know  the  truth.  O  Father  of  spirits,  give  us  courage  to  uphold  what  we 
know  to  be  true.  O  Prince  of  Peace,  grant  us  wisdom  to  labor  for  peace, 
to  uproot  evil,  to  worship  thee  with  one  heart  and  one  mouth,  and  to  pay 
thee  due  reverence,  to  the  glory  of  thy  Name,  the  good  of  thy  church,  the 
increase  of  piety,  and  the  salvation  of  our  own  souls;  through  Jesus  Christ 
thy  Son  our  Lord.”  Amen. — John  Pearson  (1613-1686). 


153 


COURAGE 


JUNE  3 

a  ^Daring  Spirit 


(Ot  t l)t  2Da^*  “Be  strong  and  of  good  courage.  .  .  With  him 

is  an  arm  of  flesh;  but  with  us  is  Jehovah  our  God  to  help  us,  and  to 
fight  our  battles.” — 2  Chronicles  32.  7 f .cl.,  8. 

3Lt0&tmioz  t f)e  2Dap:  Joshua  I.  5-9. 

5  There  shall  not  any  man  be  able  to  stand  before  thee  all  the 
days  of  thy  life:  as  I  was  with  Moses,  so  I  will  be  with  thee:  I 
will  not  fail  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.  6  Be  strong  and  of  a  good 
courage:  for  thou  shalt  cause  this  people  to  inherit  the  land  which 
I  sware  unto  their  fathers  to  give  them.  7  Only  be  strong  and 
very  courageous,  to  observe  to  do  according  to  all  the  law,  which 
Moses  my  servant  commanded  thee:  turn  not  from  it  to  the  right 
hand  or  to  the  left,  that  thou  mayest  have  good  success  whither¬ 
soever  thou  goest.  8  This  book  of  the  law  shall  not  depart  out 
of  thy  mouth,  but  thou  shalt  meditate  therein  day  and  night,  that 
thou  mayest  observe  to  do  according  to  all  that  is  written  therein: 
for  then  thou  shalt  make  thy  way  prosperous,  and  then  thou  shalt 
have  good  success.  9  Have  not  I  commanded  thee?  Be  strong  and 
of  a  good  courage;  be  not  affrighted,  neither  be  thou  dismayed: 
for  Jehovah  thy  God  is  with  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest. 


“The  brave  man  is  not  he  who  feels  no  fear, 

For  that  were  stupid  and  irrational; 

But  he  whose  noble  soul  its  fear  subdues 

And  bravely  dares  the  danger  nature  shrinks  from.” 


“Far  better  is  it  to  dare  mighty  things,  to  win  glorious  triumphs,  even  though 
checkered  by  failure,  than  to  take  rank  with  those  poor  spirits  who  neither  enjoy  much 
nor  suffer  much  because  they  live  in  gray  twilight  that  knows  neither  victory  nor  de¬ 
feat.” —  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

(0t  tf)t  “Almighty  God,  our  Father  in  heaven,  thou  hast  set 

before  us  a  goodly  heritage,  and  the  lines  have  fallen  to  us  in  pleasant  places. 
We  thank  thee  for  the  peace  and  happiness  of  this  our  home;  and  we  praise 
thee  for  the  better  blessings  of  thy  kingdom  which  thou  hast  given  us  in 
Jesus  Christ.  Grant  us  rightly  to  receive  what  thou  dost  give.  We  con¬ 
fess  our  faint-heartedness  and  our  unbelief.  Give  unto  us  more  of  the  spirit 
of  thy  servant  of  old;  the  spirit  of  holy  daring.  When  thou  dost  call  us 
to  possess  the  promised  land  of  thy  gospel  privileges  we  scarcely  have  the 
courage  to  enter  in.  Make  us  strong  and  of  a  good  courage.  Lord,  we 
believe;  help  thou  our  unbelief.  Too  often  have  we  failed  before  our  foes. 
Help  us  to  face  this  day’s  temptations  in  thy  strength.  Let  not  the  power 
of  the  enemy  cast  us  down.  And  suffer  us  not  to  grow  weary  in  our  pil¬ 
grimage.  So  when  all  our  days  on  earth  are  ended  bring  us  safely  over  the 
Jordan  of  death  into  thy  land  of  promise.  There  at  last,  where  some  of  our 
dear  ones  have  gone  before,  may  we  and  all  we  have  loved  here  on  earth 
be  gathered  home  through  thy  great  love  in  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour.”  Amen. 


154 


COURAGE 


JUNE  4 

Being  billing  to  £>tanb  alone 


Pet #e  tot  tge  SDap: 


“Though  a  host  should  encamp  against  me, 

My  heart  shall  not  fear.” 

— Psalm  27.  3. 


%e$#on  foe  tfje  2Dap:  Psalm  3.  1—3,  6. 


1  Jehovah,  how  are  mine  adversaries  increased! 
Many  are  they  that  rise  up  against  me. 

2  Many  there  are  that  say  of  my  soul, 

There  is  no  help  for  him  in  God. 

3  But  thou,  O  Jehovah,  art  a  shield  about  me; 

My  glory,  and  the  lifter  up  of  my  head. 

6  I  will  not  be  afraid  of  ten  thousands  of  the  people, 
That  have  set  themselves  against  me  round  about. 


“  ‘All  the  world  is  against  you,’  they  said  to  John  Knox;  and  he  retorted,  ‘Then  I 
am  against  all  the  world.’  ” 


“Count  me  o’er  earth’s  chosen  heroes — they  were  souls  that  stood  alone 
While  the  men  they  agonized  for  hurled  the  contumelious  stone, 

Stood  serene,  and  down  the  future  saw  the  golden  beam  incline 
To  the  side  of  perfect  justice,  mastered  by  their  faith  divine, 

By  one  man’s  plain  truth  to  manhood  and  to  God’s  supreme  design.” 

— James  Russell  Lozuell. 

fdt  tj)£  “O  merciful  God,  be  thou  now  unto  us  a  strong 

tower  of  defense,  we  humbly  entreat  thee.  Give  us  grace  to  await  thy 
leisure,  and  patiently  to  bear  what  thou  doest  unto  us,  nothing  doubting, 
or  mistrusting  thy  goodness  toward  us;  for  thou  knowest  what  is  good  for 
us  better  than  we  do.  Therefore  do  with  us  in  all  things  what  thou  wilt; 
only  arm  us,  we  beseech  thee,  with  thine  armor,  that  we  may  stand  fast; 
above  all  things,  taking  to  us  the  shield  of  faith,  praying  always  that  we 
may  refer  ourselves  wholly  to  thy  will,  abiding  thy  pleasure,  and  comforting 
ourselves  in  those  troubles  which  it  shall  please  thee  to  send  us,  seeing  such 
troubles  are  profitable  for  us.  We  are  assuredly  persuaded  that  all  thou 
doest  cannot  but  be  well ;  and  unto  thee  be  all  honor  and  glory,  both  now 
and  ever.”  Amen. — Lady  Jane  Grey  (1537—1554). 


155 


COURAGE 


JUNE  5 

Hfetotem  m  (Kbtrptiap  Hitt 


H?EES>E  fOt  tf)E  “And  he  said  unto  all,  If  any  man  would  come 

after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow 
me.” — Luke  9.  23. 

fOttfltSDap:  Luke  9.  57-62. 

57  And  as  they  went  on  the  way,  a  certain  man  said  unto  him, 
I  will  follow  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest.  58  And  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  heaven  have 
nests;  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head.  59  And 
he  said  unto  another,  Follow  me.  But  he  said,  Lord,  suffer  me 
first  to  go  and  bury  my  father.  60  But  he  said  unto  him,  Leave 
the  dead  to  bury  their  own  dead;  but  go  thou  and  publish  abroad 
the  kingdom  of  God.  61  And  another  also  said,  I  will  follow  thee, 
Lord;  but  first  suffer  me  to  bid  farewell  to  them  that  are  at  my 
house.  62  But  Jesus  said  unto  him,  No  man,  having  put  his  hand 
to  the  plow,  and  looking  back,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 


“The  opportunities  of  generously  serving  Jesus  Christ  are  few;  perhaps  not  more 
than  one  in  a  lifetime.  They  come,  they  do  not  return.  What  we  do  upon  a  great 
occasion  will  probably  depend  upon  what  we  already  are;  what  we  are  will  be  the  result 
of  previous  years  of  self-discipline  under  the  grace  of  Christ,  or  of  the  absence  of  it.” 
— Henry  Parry  Liddon. 


fOE  “O  Lord,  our  God,  from  whom  cometh  every  spir¬ 

itual  gift,  enable  us  so  to  live  that  we  may  exemplify  the  spirit  of  Christian 
courage  in  everyday  living.  Help  us  that  we  may  deny  ourselves,  take  up 
our  cross,  and  follow  thee.  Grant  unto  us  the  spirit  of  true  religion.  Dis¬ 
pose  us  to  be  kind  and  gentle,  tender  and  compassionate,  patient  and  for¬ 
giving,  just  and  upright,  loving  our  fellow  men  as  thou  hast  loved  us.  When 
trouble  comes  help  us  to  bear  it  without  complaint.  If  weakness  overtakes 
us,  be  thou  our  strength.  Empower  us  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  that  we  may  so 
bravely,  fearlessly,  joyfully  live  and  serve  that  we  shall  glorify  thee.  Bless 
us  as  we  are  assembled  here  in  this  family  circle  and  grant  that  every  unholy 
thought  and  desire  being  put  away  we  may  worthily  utter  thy  praise,  meekly 
learn  thy  word,  and  render  thanks  for  all  thy  mercies.  For  thy  name’s 
sake.”  Amen. 


COURAGE 


JUNE  6 

£>tta&ta£tiu£g 


Wtz&e  tor  tjje  2Dap:  ‘  ‘Wherefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be  ye  steadfast, 
unmovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.” — i  Corinthians 
15.  58. 

JLt$&onioz  tfjt  &>ap:  Colossians  I.  9—14. 

9  For  this  cause  we  also,  since  the  day  we  heard  it,  do  not 
cease  to  pray  and  make  request  for  you,  that  ye  may  be  filled 
with  the  knowledge  of  his  will  in  all  spiritual  wisdom  and  under¬ 
standing,  10  to  walk  worthily  of  the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing,  bear¬ 
ing  fruit  in  every  good  work,  and  increasing  in  the  knowledge  of 
God;  11  strengthened  with  all  power,  according  to  the  might  of  his 
glory,  unto  all  patience  and  long-suffering  with  joy;  12  giving 
thanks  unto  the  Father,  who  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the 
inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light;  13  who  delivered  us  out  of  the 
power  of  darkness,  and  translated  us  into  the  kingdom  of  the  Son 
of  his  love;  14  in  whom  we  have  our  redemption,  the  forgiveness 
of  our  sins. 


‘Nay,  never  falter,  no  great  deed  is  done 
By  falterers  who  ask  for  certainty. 

No  good  is  certain  but  the  steadfast  mind, 

The  undivided  will  to  seek  the  good; 

’Tis  that  compels  the  elements,  and  wrings 
A  human  music  from  the  indifferent  air. 

The  greatest  gift  a  hero  leaves  his  race 
Is  to  have  been  a  hero.” 

— George  Eliot. 

PE&^EE  COE  tfjt  Our  Father,  grant  us  this  day  and  every  day  thy 

guidance.  While  we  pursue  our  various  duties  may  we  have  a  single  eye 
to  thy  glory;  and  may  we  undertake  no  employment  in  which  we  cannot 
hope  for  thy  blessing.  May  no  spirit  of  self-indulgence,  no  love  of  ease, 
no  dread  of  opposition,  no  fear  of  shame  prevent  our  giving  ourselves  heartily 
to  thy  service.  Make  us  willing  to  deny  ourselves  that  we  may  live  unto 
thee.  Teach  us  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  those  Christians  and  apostles  of 
old  who  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves,  so  that  they  might 
finish  their  course  with  joy.  Grant  unto  every  member  of  this  family  thy 
peace,  and  all  thy  heavenly  consolations;  and  make  us  to  be  of  one  heart 
and  one  mind,  praising  thee  for  thy  mercies,  looking  unto  thee  for  thy 
grace,  and  uniting  in  the  confession  of  our  daily  sins  to  thee.  Establish  us 
by  thy  faith,  and  fear,  and  love ;  and  enlighten  us  that  we  may  understand 
thy  whole  will  concerning  us.  Where  we  mistake  have  pity  on  our  errors, 
and  if  we  have  wandered  from  the  right  way,  do  thou  in  mercy  bring  us 
back.  May  we  watch  our  hearts,  and  bridle  our  tongues,  and  govern  our 
tempers.  May  we  be  ready  to  forgive,  even  as  we  hope  to  be  forgiven.  May 
we  be  steadfast  and  immovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
knowing  that  our  labor  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  For  Jesus’  sake. 
Amen. 


COURAGE 


JUNE  7 

potoet  of  a  SDetramneb  MUU 


H^EEjSrE  fOt  tl)E  SDftJU  “But  Daniel  purposed  in  his  heart  that  he  would 
not  defile  himself  with  the  king’s  dainties,  nor  with  the  wine  which  he 
drank.” — Daniel  I.  8. 

iUgiSiOnfOttfjeSDap:  Daniel  I.  1 1— 14,  18-20. 

11  Then  said  Daniel  to  the  steward  ...  12  Prove  thy  ser¬ 

vants,  I  beseech  thee,  ten  days;  and  let  them  give  us  pulse  to  eat, 
and  water  to  drink.  13  Then  let  our  countenances  be  looked  upon 
before  thee,  and  the  countenance  of  the  youths  that  eat  of  the 
king’s  dainties;  and  as  thou  seest,  deal  with  thy  servants. 

14  So  he  hearkened  unto  them  in  this  matter,  and  proved  them 
ten  days. 

18  And  at  the  end  of  the  days  which  the  king  had  appointed 
for  bringing  them  in,  the  prince  of  the  eunuchs  brought  them  in 
before  Nebuchadnezzar.  19  And  the  king  communed  with  them; 
and  among  them  all  was  found  none  like  Daniel,  Hananiah,  Mishael, 
and  Azariah:  therefore  stood  they  before  the  king.  20  And  in 
every  matter  of  wisdom  and  understanding,  concerning  which  the 
king  inquired  of  them,  he  found  them  ten  times  better  than  all  the 
magicians  and  enchanters  that  were  in  all  his  realm. 

“There  is  no  chance,  no  destiny,  no  fate, 

Can  circumvent  or  hinder  or  control 
The  firm  resolve  of  a  determined  soul. 

Gifts  count  for  nothing;  will  alone  is  great; 

All  things  give  way  before  it,  soon  or  late. 

What  obstacle  can  stay  the  mighty  force 
Of  the  sea-seeking  river  in  its  course, 

Or  cause  the  ascending  orb  of  day  to  wait? 

Each  well-born  soul  must  win  what  it  deserves, 

Let  the  fool  prate  of  luck.  The  fortunate 
Is  he  whose  earnest  purpose  never  swerves, 

Whose  slightest  action  or  inaction  serves 
The  one  great  aim. 

Why,  even  Death  stands  still, 

And  waits  an  hour  sometimes  for  such  a  will.” 

— Ella  Wheeler  Wilcor. 

tOE  tf)t  O  God,  our  Father,  the  source  of  our  strength,  we 

seek  thy  help  that  we  may  face  our  duties  and  our  difficulties  without  fear. 
Save  us  from  the  miserable  sin  of  cowardice.  When  times  of  testing  come 
may  we  have  the  courage  of  our  convictions;  may  we  stand  fast;  may  we 
prove  true.  We  would  not  pray  that  all  the  danger  should  be  removed  from 
our  path.  Rather  we  would  beseech  thee  to  strengthen  our  wills,  that  we 
may  stand  like  the  brave  men  of  former  times  unafraid  in  the  face  of  the 
foe,  witnessing  for  principle  and  for  truth.  Especially  we  beseech  thee  to 
give  us  the  high  privilege  of  strength  with  which  to  rescue  the  weak.  We 
ask  not  only  for  our  own  triumph,  we  seek  not  only  success  in  our  own  way. 
We  would  be  succorers  of  others.  Teach  us  to  take  our  part  in  the  great 
crusade  against  evil  in  the  world,  and  with  thine  own  mighty  hand  grant  vic¬ 
tory,  we  pray  thee,  through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

158 


COURAGE 


JUNE  8 

Sin  ^Unconquerable  Spirit 


Petgie  Cor  t^e  2Da^*  “For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor  life, 
nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor 
powers,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to 
separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.” — 
Romans  8.  38,  39. 

HeggOnfortljeSDap:  2  Corinthians  I.  8-10;  12.  9-10. 

8  For  we  would  not  have  you  ignorant,  brethren,  concerning 
our  affliction  which  befell  us  in  Asia,  that  we  were  weighed  down 
exceedingly,  beyond  our  power,  insomuch  that  we  despaired  even 
of  life:  9  yea,  we  ourselves  have  had  the  sentence  of  death  within 
ourselves,  that  we  should  not  trust  in  ourselves,  but  in  God  who 
raiseth  the  dead:  10  who  delivered  us  out  of  so  great  a  death, 
and  will  deliver:  on  whom  we  have  set  our  hope  that  he  will 
also  still  deliver  us.  9  And  he  hath  said  unto  me,  My  grace  is 
sufficient  for  thee:  for  my  power  is  made  perfect  in  weakness. 
Most  gladly  therefore  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  weaknesses, 
that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me.  10  Wherefore  I 
take  pleasure  in  weaknesses,  in  injuries,  in  necessities,  in  persecu¬ 
tions,  in  distresses,  for  Christ’s  sake:  for  when  I  am  weak,  then 
am  I  strong. 

“The  wind  that  blows  can  never  kill 
The  tree  God  plants; 

It  bloweth  east;  it  bloweth  west; 

The  tender  leaves  have  little  rest, 

But  any  wind  that  blows  is  best. 

The  tree  God  plants 
Strikes  deeper  root,  grows  higher  still, 

Spreads  wider  boughs,  for  God’s  good  will 

Meets  all  its  wants.”  — Lillie  E.  Barr. 


Cot  tj )t  O  Lord,  our  God,  we  thank  thee  for  the  love  of 

God  made  manifest  to  us  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  With  the  conscious¬ 
ness  of  thy  love  ever  present  in  our  minds,  strengthened  by  thy  Spirit  in  the 
inner  man,  may  we  stand  firm  against  all  encroachment  of  evil,  undaunted 
by  difficulties  and  by  all  manner  of  circumstance.  May  no  bodily  infirmities 
overcome  us,  nor  weakness  of  will  or  of  knowledge.  Amid  all  adversities 
and  trials  may  we  steadfastly  endure  as  seeing  the  invisible.  May  we  be 
enabled  to  bear  patiently  every  sorrow,  if  sorrows  shall  come  upon  us;  to 
resist  firmly  every  temptation,  if  we  shall  be  tried ;  and  to  discharge  faith¬ 
fully  every  duty,  however  many  and  difficult  our  responsibilities  may  be. 
Our  faith  is  in  thee;  we  trust  in  the  sufficiency  of  thy  grace;  guide  us  by  thy 
counsel  and  bring  us  off  more  than  conquerors  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.  Amen. 


159 


PRAISE 


JUNE  9 

jRature'0  Call  to  ptaige 


$t££it  tot  tl)t  SDa#i  “Bless  Jehovah,  O  my  soul; 

And  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name.” 

— Psalm  103.  1. 

2lt£i£i0it  tot  tfie  2Dap:  Psalm  148.  1,  3-5,  7-10,  13. 

i  Praise  ye  Jehovah. 

Praise  ye  Jehovah  from  the  heavens: 

3  Praise  ye  him,  sun  and  moon: 

Praise  him,  all  ye  stars  of  light. 

4  Praise  him,  ye  heavens  of  heavens, 

And  ye  waters  that  are  above  the  heavens. 

5  Let  them  praise  the  name  of  Jehovah: 

For  he  commanded,  and  they  were  created. 

7  Praise  Jehovah  from  the  earth, 

Ye  sea  monsters,  and  all  deeps; 

8  Fire  and  hail,  snow  and  vapor; 

Stormy  wind,  fulfilling  his  word; 

9  Mountains  and  all  hills; 

Fruitful  trees  and  all  cedars; 

10  Beasts  and  all  cattle; 

Creeping  things  and  flying  fowl; 

13  Let  them  praise  the  name  of  Jehovah; 

For  his  name  alone  is  exalted; 

His  glory  is  above  the  earth  and  heaven. 

“The  wind  that  blew  from  the  sunrise  made  me  hope  in  the  God  who  had  first 
breathed  into  my  nostrils  the  breath  of  life — that  he  would  at  length  so  fill  me  with  his 
breath  that  I  should  think  only  his  thoughts,  and  live  his  life,  finding  therein  my  own 
life,  only  glorified  infinitely.  What  should  we  poor  humans  do  without  our  God’s 
nights  and  mornings?’’ — George  MacDonald. 

“‘Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul!’  For  doth  not  all  nature  around  me  praise  him? 
If  I  were  silent,  I  should  be  an  exception  to  the  universe.  Doth  not  the  thunder  praise 
him  as  it  rolls  like  drums  in  the  march  of  the  God  of  armies?  Do  not  the  mountains 
praise  him  when  the  woods  upon  their  summits  wave  in  adoration?  Does  not  the 
lightning  write  his  name  in  letters  of  fire?  Hath  not  the  whole  earth  a  voice,  and  shall 
I,  can  I,  be  silent?  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul!’’ — Charles  II.  Spurgeon. 

^tagtt  fot  tl$C  “O  Lord  we  bless  thee  for  the  life  which  teems  in 

the  waters  about  us,  and  in  the  little  brooks  which  run  among  the  hills, 
which  warbles  in  the  branches  of  the  trees,  and  hums  with  new-born  insects 
throughout  the  peopled  land.  O  Lord,  we  thank  thee  for  days  that  are  sweet 
and  fair,  when  the  trees  lift  up  their  hands  in  a  psalm  of  gratitude  to  thee, 
and  every  little  flower  that  opens  its  cup  and  every  wandering  bird  seem 
filled  by  thy  spirit,  and  grateful  to  thee.  We  thank  thee  for  all  thine 
handwritings  of  revelation  on  the  walls  of  the  world,  on  the  heavens 
above  us,  and  the  ground  beneath,  and  all  the  testimonies  recorded 
there  of  thy  presence.  May  we  so  live  that  every  day  we  learn  some  new 
truth,  practice  some  new  virtue,  and  become  dearer  and  more  beautiful  in 
thine  own  sight.  For  thy  name’s  sake.”  Amen. — Theodore  Parker  (1810— 
i860). 

160 


PRAISE  JUNE  io 

Beaut#  ot  ligature 

tOC  tf)£  jdDajU  “He  hath  made  everything  beautiful  in  its  time.” 

— Ecclesiastes  3.  11a. 

JLt$$on  tor  tjje  2Da#:  Psalm  19.  1-6. 

1  The  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God; 

And  the  firmament  showeth  his  handiwork. 

2  Day  unto  day  uttereth  speech, 

And  night  unto  night  showeth  knowledge. 

3  There  is  no  speech  nor  language; 

Their  voice  is  not  heard. 

4  Their  line  is  gone  out  through  all  the  earth, 

And  their  words  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

In  them  hath  he  set  a  tabernacle  for  the  sun, 

5  Which  is  as  a  bridegroom  coming  out  of  his  chamber, 

And  rejoiceth  as  a  strong  man  to  run  his  course. 

6  His  going  forth  is  from  the  end  of  the  heavens, 

And  his  circuit  unto  the  ends  of  it; 

And  there  is  nothing  hid  from  the  heat  thereof. 

“For  flowers  that  bloom  about  our  feet; 

For  tender  grass  so  fresh  and  sweet; 

For  song  of  bird  and  hum  of  bee; 

For  all  things  fair  we  hear  and  see, 

Father  in  Heaven,  we  thank  thee! 

“For  blue  of  stream  and  blue  of  sky; 

For  pleasant  shade  of  branches  high; 

For  fragrant  air  and  cooling  breeze; 

For  beauty  of  the  blooming  trees, 

Father  in  Heaven,  we  thank  thee! 

— Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 

fOt  tf)Z  £Da#J  “Almighty  God!  We  do  well  to  mark  thy  won¬ 
drous  works  and  to  gladden  our  souls  with  the  marvelous  beauty  of  the 
things  thou  hast  made.  If  we  neglect  to  do  this,  pity  us,  and  grant  us  a 
fuller  knowledge  of  thee.  When  we  see  thy  works  and  the  wondrous  beauty 
which  with  open  hand  thou  hast  put  into  all  that  thou  hast  made,  shall  we 
not  desire  to  know  thee?  Help  us  to  make  our  lives  more  like  thy  works — 
a  thought  of  God.  Let  us  ask  ourselves  whether  we  give  forth  any  fra¬ 
grance  of  holy  life,  like  the  sweet  flowers  thou  hast  made,  whether  we  give  to 
others  poison  to  their  souls  or  sweetness.  Make  us  more  fruitful  in  charity, 
so  that  it  may  be  a  good  thing  to  know  us.  Grant  that  we  may  be  like  sweet 
music  to  the  soul  and  drink  to  the  thirsty.  Press  these  things  home  to  us 
as  good  thoughts,  and  if  they  bring  pain  and  tears,  let  us  remember  that  out 
of  wounding  comes  true  healing  and  through  thy  pitiful  love  grant  that  we 
may  rise  on  our  past  sins  to  heights  we  have  never  known  before.  Give  us 
the  true  birth  of  the  soul  into  charity  and  self-negation  which  make  the 
higher  life.  Thou  hast  set  thy  lesson  before  us  in  the  life  of  our  Lord.  So  let 
us  look  forward  to  the  day  when  we  shall  enter  into  the  larger  life  which  thou 
hast  prepared  for  those  who  love  thee.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

161 


PRAISE 


JUNE  ii 

jfdlototfljtp  dfilttj)  Mature 


$££#£  tOE  tj)E  SDftJU  “But  ask  now  the  beasts,  and  they  shall  teach  thee; 

And  the  birds  of  the  heavens,  and  they  shall  tell 
thee : 

Or  speak  to  the  earth,  and  it  shall  teach  thee; 

And  the  fishes  of  the  sea  shall  declare  unto  thee.” 

— Job  12.  7,  8. 

for  tfje  2Dap:  Job  38.  16-18,  31-33* 

16  Hast  thou  entered  into  the  springs  of  the  sea? 

Or  hast  thou  walked  in  the  recesses  of  the  deep? 

17  Have  the  gates  of  death  been  revealed  unto  thee? 

Or  hast  thou  seen  the  gates  of  the  shadow  of  death? 

18  Hast  thou  comprehended  the  earth  in  its  breadth? 

Declare,  if  thou  knowest  it  all. 

31  Canst  thou  bind  the  cluster  of  the  Pleiades, 

Or  loose  the  bands  of  Orion? 

32  Canst  thou  lead  forth  the  Mazzaroth  in  their  season? 

Or  canst  thou  guide  the  Bear  with  her  train? 

33  Knowest  thou  the  ordinances  of  the  heavens? 

Canst  thou  establish  the  dominion  thereof  in  the  earth? 

“If  I  had  but  two  loaves  of  bread,  I  would  self  one  and  buy  hyacinths,  for  they 
would  feed  my  soul.” — Koran. 

“So,  then,  believe  that  every  bird  that  sings, 

And  every  flower  that  stars  the  elastic  sod. 

And  every  thought  that  happy  summer  brings, 

To  the  pure  spirit,  is  a  word  of  God.”  — Hartley  Coleridge. 

“Come  forth  into  the  light  of  things;  let  nature  be  your  teacher.” — William  Words¬ 
worth. 

y&Z&ytt  fOt  SDapJ  “O  God,  we  thank  thee  for  this  universe,  our  great 
home ;  for  its  vastness  and  its  riches,  and  for  the  manifoldness  of  the  life 
which  teems  upon  it  and  of  which  we  are  part.  We  praise  thee  for  the  arch¬ 
ing  sky  and  the  blessed  winds,  for  the  driving  clouds  and  the  constellations 
on  high.  We  praise  thee  for  the  salt  sea  and  the  running  water,  for  the 
everlasting  hills,  for  the  trees,  and  for  the  grass  under  our  feet.  We  thank 
thee  for  our  senses  by  which  we  can  see  the  splendor  of  the  morning,  and 
hear  the  jubilant  songs  of  love,  and  smell  the  breath  of  the  springtime.  Grant 
us,  we  pray  thee,  a  heart  wide  open  to  all  this  joy  and  beauty,  and  save  our 
souls  from  being  so  steeped  in  care  or  so  darkened  by  passion  that  we  pass 
heedless  and  unseeing  when  even  the  thornbush  by  the  wayside  is  aflame  with 
the  glory  of  God.  When  our  use  of  this  world  is  over  and  we  make  room 
for  others,  may  we  not  leave  anything  ravished  by  our  greed  or  spoiled  by 
our  ignorance,  but  may  we  hand  on  our  common  heritage  fairer  and  sweeter 
through  our  use  of  it,  undiminished  in  fertility  and  joy,  that  so  our  bodies 
may  return  in  peace  to  the  great  mother  who  nourished  them  and  our  spirits 
may  round  the  circle  of  a  perfect  life  in  thee.”  Amen. — Walter  Rauschenbusch 
(1861-1918). 


PRAISE 


JUNE  12 

Tlfjt  Common  3og£  of  JLitz 


1&ZZ&Z  fOt  tf)£  “Better  is  little  with  the  fear  of  Jehovah, 

Than  great  treasure  and  trouble  therewith.” 

— Proverbs  15.  1 6. 

fLz&gon  for  tfje  t>ap:  Philippians  4.  4-7. 

4  Rejoice  in  the  Lord  always:  again  I  will  say,  Rejoice.  5  Let 
your  forbearance  be  known  unto  all  men.  The  Lord  is  at  hand. 
6  In  nothing  be  anxious;  but  in  everything  by  prayer  and  suppli¬ 
cation  with  thanksgiving  let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto 
God.  7  And  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
shall  guard  your  hearts  and  your  thoughts  in  Christ  Jesus. 


“What  seems  to  grow  fairer  to  me  as  life  goes  by,  is  the  love  and  peace  and  tender¬ 
ness  of  it.  Not  its  wit  and  cleverness  and  grandeur  of  knowledge,  but  just  the  laughter 
of  little  children,  and  the  friendship  of  friends,  and  the  cozy  talk  of  the  fireside,  and 
the  sight  of  flowers  and  the  sound  of  music.” — J.  R.  Green. 


“The  best  things  are  nearest:  breath  in  your  nostrils,  light  in  your  eyes,  flowers  at 
your  feet,  duties  at  your  hand,  the  path  of  God  just  before  you.  Then  do  not  grasp 
at  the  stars,  but  do  life’s  plain,  common  work  as  it  comes,  certain  that  daily  duties  and 
daily  bread  are  the  sweetest  things  of  life.” — Anonymous. 


Ptapet  tot  tlje  2Dap:  “  Our  heavenly  Father,  give  unto  ns  more  of  the 
spirit  of  rejoicing  and  gratitude  for  the  common  joys  and  blessings  of  life. 
We  have  been  too  ready  with  complaint  of  our  lot  in  this  world ;  we  have 
been  too  prone  to  overlook  and  to  forget  thy  daily  mercies.  Give  us  a 
deeper  power  of  appreciation ;  show  us  what  blessings,  manifold  and  unde¬ 
served,  we  enjoy,  and  grant  that  we  may  realize  how  much  love  thou  hast 
mingled  with  our  experience.  We  have  been  careful  about  many  things 
which  have  no  profit  in  them,  seeking  wealth  that  can  never  enrich,  and  joy 
which  has  no  divine  spring.  Lead  us  to  the  wells  of  salvation,  that  we  may 
draw  and  thirst  no  more.  Teach  the  whole  world  thy  redeeming  truth  and 
fill  the  hearts  of  men  with  thy  gladness.  May  there  be  new  songs  this  day 
in  praise  of  thy  merciful  providence,  and  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  cross. 
Give  the  bereaved  thy  consolation,  and  hear  all  cries  that  come  from  the 
depths  of  human  woe;  and  may  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under¬ 
standing,  keep  our  hearts  and  minds,  through  Jesus  Christ,  now  and  forever.” 
Amen. 


PRAISE 


JUNE  13 

<3DjjanfttuUu00  to t  2DiuIp  Blessing** 


(Ot  tf)C  &)&#♦  “It  is  a  good  thing  to  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah, 

And  to  sing  praises  unto  thy  name,  O  Most  High; 
To  show  forth  thy  loving-kindness  in  the  morning, 
And  thy  faithfulness  every  night.” 

— Psalm  92.  I,  2. 

JLt$0On  tot  tf)t2Dag:  Psalm  145.  1,  2,  14-19. 

♦ 

1  I  will  extol  thee,  my  God,  O  King! 

And  I  will  bless  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 

2  Every  day  will  I  bless  thee; 

And  I  will  praise  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 

14  Jehovah  upholdeth  all  that  fall, 

And  raiseth  up  all  those  that  are  bowed  down. 

15  The  eyes  of  all  wait  for  thee; 

And  thou  givest  them  their  food  in  due  season. 

16  Thou  openest  thy  hand, 

And  satisfiest  the  desire  of  every  living  thing. 

17  Jehovah  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways, 

And  gracious  in  all  his  works. 

18  Jehovah  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that  call  upon  him. 

To  all  that  call  upon  him  in  truth. 

19  He  will  fulfill  the  desire  of  them  that  fear  him; 

He  also  will  hear  their  cry,  and  will  save  them. 

“New  every  morning  is  the  love 
Our  wakening  and  uprising  prove; 

Through  sleep  and  darkness  safely  brought, 

Restored  to  life  and  power  and  thought. 

“New  mercies,  each  returning  day, 

Hover  around  us  while  we  pray; 

New  perils  past,  new  sins  forgiven, 

New  thoughts  of  God,  new  hopes  of  heaven.” 

— John  Keble. 

(Ot  tjt  2D OJU  "O  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  by  whose  love  all 
creatures  are  blessed,  we  give  thanks  for  thy  daily  mercies.  Thy  grace  is 
new  every  morning  and  renewed  every  evening.  For  all  thy  gifts  we  bless 
thy  name:  for  our  parents  and  teachers,  our  companions  and  friends;  for 
our  homes  and  our  work,  and  all  that  makes  us  happy.  We  bless  thee  for 
thy  tender  care,  for  thine  eye  upon  us  by  day  and  by  night,  for  thy  Holy 
Spirit  in  our  hearts,  for  thy  correction  when  we  err,  and  thy  forgiveness 
when  we  repent,  and  for  the  Saviour  who  turns  us  from  evil  ways  to  thy 
holy  and  blessed  service.  We  pray  thee  for  a  pure  heart  and  a  right  spirit, 
that  we  may  ever  do  that  which  is  pleasing  unto  thee.  Make  us  careful 
not  to  offend  in  thought  or  word  or  deed.  May  we  speak  the  truth  always 
and  love  it  forever.  As  we  grow  in  years  may  we  grow  in  wisdom  and  in 
favor  with  God  and  man.  Keep  alive  in  our  hearts  the  spirit  of  deep  and 
abiding  gratitude  for  thy  constant  mercies,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.” 
Amen. 


164 


PRAISE 


JUNE  14 

(Bon  3$  (Boot) 


tot  tt>e  2Dap:  “  O  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah;  for  he  is  good; 

For  his  loving-kindness  endureth  forever.” 

— Psalm  106.  I. 

Ht$$0Xl  (ot  tjjt  2Dap:  Psalm  106.  1-5. 

1  Praise  ye  Jehovah. 

O  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah;  for  he  is  good; 

For  his  loving-kindness  endureth  forever. 

2  Who  can  utter  the  mighty  acts  of  Jehovah, 

Or  show  forth  all  his  praise? 

3  Blessed  are  they  that  keep  justice, 

And  he  that  doeth  righteousness  at  all  times. 

4  Remember  me,  O  Jehovah,  with  the  favor  that  thou  bearest 

unto  thy  people; 

O  visit  me  with  thy  salvation: 

5  That  I  may  see  the  prosperity  of  thy  chosen, 

That  I  may  rejoice  in  the  gladness  of  thy  nation, 

That  I  may  glory  with  thine  inheritance. 

“The  love  of  God  is  the  love  of  goodness.  The  old  Saxon  word  God  is  identical 
with  Good:  God  the  Good  one — personified  goodness.  There  is  in  that  derivation  not 
a  mere  play  of  words — there  is  deep  truth.  None  loves  God  but  he  who  loves  good.” 

— Frederick  IF.  Robertson. 

“From  Thee  is  all  that  soothes  the  life  of  man — 

His  high  endeavor,  and  his  glad  success, 

His  strength  to  suffer,  and  his  will  to  serve. 

But  oh,  thou  bounteous  Giver  of  all  good, 

Thou  art  of  all  thy  gifts  thyself  the  crown! 

Gi  ve  what  thou  canst,  without  thee  we  are  poor, 

And  with  thee  rich,  take  what  thou  wilt  away.” 

— Cowper. 

— • 

“I  see  the  wrong  that  round  me  lies, 

I  feel  the  guilt  within; 

I  hear  with  groan  and  travail  cries 
The  world  confess  its  sin. 

“Yet,  in  the  maddening  maze  of  things, 

And  tossed  by  storm  and  flood, 

To  one  fixed  stake  my  spirit  clings; 

I  know  that  God  is  good.” 

— John  Greenleaf  Whittier. 


^btOyt t  fOt  “O  eternal  light,  shine  into  our  hearts.  O  eternal 

Goodness,  deliver  us  from  evil.  O  eternal  Power,  be  thou  our  support. 
Eternal  Wisdom,  scatter  the  darkness  of  our^  ignorance.  Eternal  Pity,  have 
mercy  upon  us.  Grant  unto  us  that  with  all  our  hearts,  and  minds,  and 
strength,  we  may  evermore  seek  thy  face;  and  finally,  bring  us,  in  thine  in¬ 
finite  mercy,  to  thy  holy  presence.  So  strengthen  our  weakness  that,  follow¬ 
ing  in  the  footsteps  of  thy  blessed  Son,  we  may  obtain  thy  mercy,  and  enter 
into  thy  promised  joy.”  Amen. — Alcuin  (735-804). 


PRAISE 


JUNE  15 

d 5od  $Duz  HiQfyt 


Verge  (or  t!)e  SDag:  “Jehovah  will  be  unto  thee  an  everlasting  light, 
and  thy  God  thy  glory.” — Isaiah  60.  19. 

£r££on  tortfjeSDap:  Psalm  27.  1-6. 

1  Jehovah  is  my  light  and  my  salvation; 

Whom  shall  I  fear? 

Jehovah  is  the  strength  of  my  life; 

Of  whom  shall  I  be  afraid? 

2  When  evil-doers  came  upon  me  to  eat  up  my  flesh, 

Even  mine  adversaries  and  my  foes,  they  stumbled  and  fell. 

3  Though  a  host  should  encamp  against  me, 

My  heart  shall  not  fear: 

Though  war  should  rise  against  me, 

Even  then  will  I  be  confident. 

4  One  thing  have  I  asked  of  Jehovah,  that  will  I  seek  after: 

That  I  may  dwell  in  the  house  of  Jehovah  all  the  days  of 

my  life, 

To  behold  the  beauty  of  Jehovah, 

And  to  inquire  in  his  temple. 

5  For  in  the  day  of  trouble  he  will  keep  me  secretly  in  his 

pavilion: 

In  the  covert  of  his  tabernacle  will  he  hide  me; 

He  will  lift  me  up  upon  a  rock. 

6  And  now  shall  my  head  be  lifted  up  above  mine  enemies 

round  about  me ; 

And  I  will  offer  in  his  tabernacle  sacrifices  of  joy; 

I  will  sing,  yea,  I  will  sing  praises  unto  Jehovah. 

“Thou  art,  0  God,  the  life  and  light 
Of  all  this  wondrous  world  we  see: 

Its  glow  by  day,  its  smile  by  night, 

Are  but  reflections  caught  from  thee. 

Where’er  we  turn,  thy  glories  shine, 

And  all  things  fair  and  bright  are  thine.”  — Thomas  Moore. 

(Ot  tt)e  “O  thou  whose  name  is  Love,  with  the  returning 

light  of  day  we  adore  thee  as  the  Light  in  whom  is  no  darkness  at  all.  In 
thy  light  enable  us  to  see  light  for  ourselves  this  day.  We  are  unworthy 
of  thy  favor,  for  we  have  sinned  against  thee.  Purge  us  of  our  sins,  and 
grant  that  we  may  enter  into  the  full  enjoyment  of  our  privileges  as 
thy  children.  Bless  our  home;  grant  to  our  loved  ones  a  sense  of  thy  near¬ 
ness;  help  them  to  cast  themselves  upon  thee.  May  the  risen  Christ  be  held 
up  this  day  before  men  as  their  only  and  allsufficient  Saviour,  and  may  the 
world  be  advanced  nearer  to  the  glorious  time  of  the  coming  of  thy  kingdom. 
When  the  evening  shadows  betoken  the  end  of  the  day,  may  we  have  the 
consciousness  that  it  has  been  a  day  of  gladness  and  peace,  a  foretaste  of  the 
peace  and  joy  of  thy  presence  forevermore.”  Amen. — Andrew  C.  Zenos 
(b.  1855). 

l66 


PRAISE 


JUNE  16 

% lie  Kotung:fUntme00  ot  C5oti 


Wti&t  (ot  tj)t  SDag: 


“For  as  the  heavens  are  high  above  the  earth, 

So  great  is  his  loving-kindness  toward  them  that 
fear  him.” 

—Psalm  103.  11. 


2tt£»0on  (ot  tjjt  Psalm  107.  1-3,  21,  22,  43. 


1  O  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah;  for  he  is  good; 
for  his  loving-kindness  endureth  forever. 

2  Let  the  redeemed  of  Jehovah  say  so, 

Whom  he  hath  redeemed  from  the  hand  of  the  adversary, 

3  And  gathered  out  of  the  lands, 

From  the  east  and  from  the  west, 

From  the  north  and  from  the  south. 

21  O  that  men  would  praise  Jehovah  for  his  loving-kindness, 
And  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men! 

22  And  let  them  offer  the  sacrifices  of  thanksgiving, 

And  declare  his  works  with  singing. 

43  Whoso  is  wise  will  give  heed  to  these  things; 

And  they  will  consider  the  loving-kindness  of  Jehovah. 

“Thou  grace  divine,  encircling  all, 

A  soundless,  shoreless  sea 
Wherein  at  last  our  souls  shall  fall; 

O  love  of  God,  most  free! 

“But  not  alone  thy  care  we  claim 
Our  wayward  steps  to  win; 

We  know  thee  by  a  dearer  name, 

O  love  of  God,  within! 

“And  filled  and  quickened  by  thy  breath 
Our  souls  are  strong  and  free; 

To  rise  o’er  sin,  and  fear,  and  death, 

O  love  of  God,  to  thee.”  — Eliza  Scudder. 

y&ZHyZZ  (Ot  tl )t  “Our  Father  in  heaven,  look  down  upon  us  thy 

children  and  help  us  to  worship  thee.  Put  out  of  our  minds  all  foolish 
thoughts,  teach  us  thy  will  concerning  us  and  incline  us  to  learn.  May  we 
love  thy  truth  and  seek  to  live  by  it  every  day.  Our  Father,  we  know  that 
we  need  have  no  fear  of  thee.  Thy  thoughts  toward  us  are  full  of  pitiful 
and  tender  love.  Thou  hast  spoken  to  us  by  the  voice  of  Jesus  and  he  has 
told  us  of  thy  loving-kindness.  Thy  gentleness  makes  us  great.  Help  us 
to  show  our  thankfulness  and  unwearying  love  by  ever  seeking  to  please 
thee  in  all  things.  Help  us  to  fight  against  our  faults,  that  they  may  not 
grow  into  bad  habits  which  will  cling  to  us  all  our  days.  May  we  always 
speak  the  truth  and  never  be  guilty  of  deceit.  May  we  be  kind  and  gentle 
and  not  easily  angered.  May  we  never  neglect  our  duties.  May  we  think 
little  about  ourselves  but  ever  strive  to  do  what  we  can  for  others,  and  to 
hurt  no  one  by  word  or  by  deed.  May  we  grow  more  like  Jesus  every  day 
we  live  and  become  children  with  whom  thou  art  ever  well  pleased,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — John  Hunter  (b.  1849). 

167 


PRAISE 


JUNE  17 

d 5oW&  d5tactougi  Snbitatton 


C?£E£it  fOt  tjjt  SDa^t  “Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.” — Matthew  11.  28. 

%t &&on  for  tfjeSDap:  Isaiah  55.  1—3,  6—8. 

1  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters,  and  he 
that  hath  no  money;  come  ye,  buy,  and  eat;  yea,  come,  buy  wine 
and  milk  without  money  and  without  price.  2  Wherefore  do  ye 
spend  money  for  that  which  is  not  bread?  and  your  labor  for  that 
which  satisfieth  not?  hearken  diligently  unto  me,  and  eat  ye  that 
which  is  good,  and  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness.  3  Incline 
your  ear,  and  come  unto  me;  hear,  and  your  soul  shall  live. 

6  Seek  ye  Jehovah  while  he  may  be  found;  call  ye  upon  him 
while  he  is  near:  7  let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  un¬ 
righteous  man  his  thoughts;  and  let  him  return  unto  Jehovah,  and 
he  will  have  mercy  upon  him;  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abun¬ 
dantly  pardon.  8  For  my  thoughts  are  not  your  thoughts,  neither 
are  your  ways  my  ways,  saith  Jehovah. 


“I  am  the  Fountain  of  Life,  that  cannot  be  exhausted. 

“Whosoever  is  sorrowful,  let  him  come  to  me  that  he  may  be  comforted; 
“Whosoever  is  dry,  let  him  come  that  he  may  be  filled  with  the  richness  and  full¬ 
ness  of  the  Spirit; 

“Whosoever  is  wearied,  let  him  come  that  he  may  be  refreshed  with  joy.” — Thomas 
a  Kempis. 


“The  world  proposes  rest  by  the  removal  of  a  burden.  The  Redeemer  gives  rest 
by  giving  us  the  spirit  and  power  to  bear  the  burden.  The  rest  of  Christ  is  not  that  of 
torpor,  but  of  harmony;  it  is  not  refusing  the  struggle,  but  conquering  in  it;  not  resting 
from  duty,  but  finding  rest  in  duty.” — Frederick  W.  Robertson. 


f 0t  tf)t  j&DajH  Our  loving  heavenly  Father,  we  come  to  thee  with 
gladness  of  spirit  and  lowliness  of  heart.  We  thank  thee  that  thou  hast 
drawn  us  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  to  lay  hold  on  eternal  life,  which  is  to  know 
thee  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent.  We  thank  thee  for  thy  gracious 
invitation  with  promise.  We  have  been  weary  and  faint — burdened  we 
come  unto  thee  for  rest.  Fulfill  in  us  thy  promise.  May  we  find  rest  unto 
our  souls.  We  bless  and  praise  thee  that  thou  hast  not  dealt  with  us  after 
our  sins  nor  rewarded  us  according  to  our  iniquities.  We  thank  thee  for 
life  and  immortality  brought  to  light  through  the  gospel.  We  long  to  serve 
thee  more  faithfully  and  to  render  to  thee  an  obedience  more  complete. 
Save  us,  we  beseech  thee,  from  ourselves.  Give  to  us  the  Holy  Spirit  with 
power.  Let  the  fruits  of  that  Spirit  be  apparent  in  our  hearts  and  lives.  We 
pray  that  thy  word  may  accomplish  in  us  that  whereto  thou  hast  sent  it. 
And  unto  thee  shall  be  the  glory  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen, 


168 


PRAISE 


JUNE  18 

<Boti  Peeking  WL& 


Wtt&z  for  tfir  2Dap:  “  For  the  Son  of  man  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that 
which  was  lost.” — Luke  19.  10. 

EeSigOnfOttficSDag:  Ezekiel  34.  1 1— 15. 

11  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  myself,  even  I, 
will  search  for  my  sheep,  and  will  seek  them  out.  12  As  a 
shepherd  seeketh  out  his  flock  in  the  day  that  he  is  among  his 
sheep  that  are  scattered  abroad,  so  will  I  seek  out  my  sheep ;  and 
I  will  deliver  them  out  of  all  places  whither  they  have  been  scat¬ 
tered  in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day.  13  And  I  will  bring  them  out 
from  the  peoples,  and  gather  them  from  the  countries,  and  will 
bring  them  into  their  own  land;  and  I  will  feed  them  upon  the 
mountains  of  Israel,  by  the  watercourses,  and  in  all  the  inhabited 
places  of  the  country.  14  I  will  feed  them  with  good  pasture;  and 
upon  the  mountains  of  the  height  of  Israel  shall  their  fold  be: 
there  shall  they  lie  down  in  a  good  fold;  and  on  fat  pasture  shall 
they  feed  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel.  15  I  myself  will  be  the 
shepherd  of  my  sheep,  and  I  will  cause  them  to  lie  down,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah. 


“In  the  order  of  natural  things  a  sheep  which  could  wander  away  from,  could  also 
wander  back  to  the  fold.  But  it  is  not  so  with  a  sheep  of  God’s  pasture:  this  can  lose, 
but  it  cannot  find  itself  again;  there  is  in  sin  a  centrifugal  tendency,  and  of  necessity  the 
wanderings  of  this  wanderer  could  only  be  farther  and  farther  away.  Therefore,  if  it 
shall  be  found  at  all,  it  can  only  be  by  its  shepherd  going  to  seek  it;. without  this,  it  were 
lost  forever.” — Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 

“I  sought  the  Lord,  and  afterward  I  knew 

He  moved  my  soul  to  seek  him,  seeking  me; 

It  was  not  I  that  found,  O  Saviour  true, 

No,  I  was  found  of  thee. 

“Thou  didst  reach  forth  thy  hand  and  mine  enfold; 

I  walked  and  sank  not  on  the  storm-vexed  sea; 

’Twas  not  so  much  that  I  on  thee  took  hold, 

As  thou,  dear  Lord,  on  me. 

“I  find,  I  walk,  I  love,  but  O  the  whole 

Of  love  is  but  my  answer,  Lord,  to  thee, 

For  thou  wert  long  beforehand  with  my  soul, 

Always  thou  lovedst  me.” — Anonymous. 

Cot  tj)0  SDftJP?  “O  God,  and  Father,  thou  art  here.  We  need  not 
seek  thee,  for  thou  art  seeking  us,  and  we  are  ever  in  thy  presence.  May 
we  he  in  such  an  attitude  of  soul  that  we  shall  ever  know  that  thou  art  near ; 
that  thou  art  within  us;  that  thou  art  ever  guiding  us.  O  God,  save  us  from 
the  tumult  and  the  wild  mad  rush  of  this  modern  life  of  ours.  May  we  take 
time  to  be  alone  with  thee.  May  we  covet  the  great  silences  of  the  soul,  and 
hear  thy  word,  ‘Be  still,  and  know,  in  the  secret  chamber  of  thy  being,  that  I 
am  God  !’  Do  thou  breathe  upon  us,  gracious  God,  thy  Spirit  this  day,  and 
may  every  act  and  thought  of  the  day  be  as  worship  unto  thee,  and  for  the 
glory  of  thy  name.  For  his  sake.” — Amen. — Wilbur  P.  Thirkield  (b.  1854). 

169 


PRAISE 


JUNE  19 

<3Duz  Sngpirationg  Jfnmt  c5od 


fot  tf)Z  SDft#;  “For  I  will  pour  water  upon  him  that  is  thirsty, 
and  streams  upon  the  dry  ground.” — Isaiah  44.  3. 

2l£0£0nf0tt5e3Da£:  2  Peter  1.  1-4. 

i  Simon  Peter,  a  servant  and  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  them 
that  have  obtained  a  like  precious  faith  with  us  in  the  righteous¬ 
ness  of  our  God  and  the  Saviour  Jesus  Christ:  2  Grace  to  you 
and  peace  be  multiplied  in  the  knowledge  of  God  and  of  Jesus 
our  Lord ;  3  seeing  that  his  divine  power  hath  granted  unto  us 
all  things  that  pertain  unto  life  and  godliness,  through  the  knowl¬ 
edge  of  him  that  called  us  by  his  own  glory  and  virtue ;  4  whereby 
he  hath  granted  unto  us  his  precious  and  exceeding  great  promises; 
that  through  these  ye  may  become  partakers  of  the  divine  nature, 
having  escaped  from  the  corruption  that  is  in  the  world  by  lust. 

“I  would  not  always  reason.  The  straight  path 
Wearies  us  with  its  never-varying  lines, 

And  we  grow  melancholy.  I  would  make 
Reason  my  guide,  but  she  should  sometimes  sit 
Patiently  by  the  wayside,  while  I  traced 
The  mazes  of  the  pleasant  wilderness 
Around  me.  She  should  be  my  counselor, 

But  not  my  tyrant.  For  the  spirit  needs 
Impulses  from  a  deeper  source  than  hers, 

And  there  are  motions  in  the  mind  of  man 

That. she  must  look  upon  with  awe.”  — W.  C.  Bryant. 

“All  that  is  good,  all  that  is  true,  all  that  is  beautiful,  all  that  is  beneficent,  be  it 
great  or  small,  be  it  perfect  or  fragmentary,  natural  as  well  as  supernatural,  moral  as 
well  as  material,  comes  from  God.” — John  Henry  Newman. 

“I  will  frankly  tell  you  that  my  experience  in  prolonged  scientific  investigations 
convinces  me  that  a  belief  in  God — a  God  who  is  behind  and  within  the  chaos  of  van¬ 
ishing  points  of  human  knowledge — adds  a  wonderful  stimulus  to  the  man  who  attempts 
to  penetrate  into  the  regions  of  the  unknown.  Of  myself,  I  may  say  that  I  never  make 
preparations  for  penetrating  into  some  small  province  of  nature  hitherto  undiscovered, 
without  breathing  a  prayer  to  the  Being  who  hides  his  secrets  from  me  only  to  allure 
me  graciously  on  to  the  unfolding  of  them.” — Louis  Agassiz. 

ptapet  tor  t&t  2r>ap:  “  Father,  with  thankful  and  humble  hearts  we  ap¬ 
pear  before  thee.  We  would  thank  thee  for  all  the  benefits  that  we  have 
received  from  thy  goodness.  It  is  to  thy  blessing  we  owe  what  success  we 
have  found — every  opportunity  for  doing  good,  every  impulse  in  the  right 
way,  each  victory  we  have  gained  over  ourselves,  every  thought  of  thy  presence, 
O  Father,  every  silent  but  loving  glance  on  the  example  of  our  Pattern,  thy 
Son  our  Lord — all  are  alike  thy  gifts  to  us.  Give  us  strength  and  wisdom 
to  walk  faithfully  and  joyfully  in  the  way  of  willing  obedience  to  thy  laws, 
and  cheerful  trust  in  thy  love.  The  best  thanksgiving  we  can  offer  to  thee 
is  to  live  according  to  thy  holy  will;  grant  us  every  day  to  offer  it  more 
perfectly,  and  to  grow  in  the  knowledge  of  thy  will  and  the  love  thereof 
evermore;  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. — 
Michael  Sailer  (1751-1832). 


170 


PRAISE 


JUNE  20 

<&t) t  <Bos»pcX  ot  Cfjrigt 


fOt  tfj£  “For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel:  for  it  is  the 

power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth.” — Romans  I.  16. 

JLt$$On  tot  tfje  2Dag:  Philippians  I.  12-14,  20,  21. 

12  Now  I  would  have  you  know,  brethren,  that  the  things 
which  happened  unto  me  have  fallen  out  rather  unto  the  progress 
of  the  gospel;  13  so  that  my  bonds  became  manifest  in  Christ 
throughout  the  whole  praetorian  guard,  and  to  all  the  rest;  14  and 
that  most  of  the  brethren  in  the  Lord,  being  confident  through  my 
bonds,  are  more  abundantly  bold  to  speak  the  word  of  God  with¬ 
out  fear.  20  According  to  my  earnest  expectation  and  hope,  that 
in  nothing  shall  I  be  put  to  shame,  but  that  with  all  boldness,  as  al¬ 
ways,  so  now  also  Christ  shall  be  magnified  in  my  body,  whether 
by  life,  or  by  death.  21  For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is 
gain. 


“I  cannot  but  lament  the  tendency,  encouraged  by  some  in  the  zealous  prose¬ 
cution  of  science,  to  turn  attention  from  the  teachings  of  the  gospel,  from  the  example 
of  Christ’s  life,  and  the  precepts  he  gave.  To  those  teachings  and  that  example  the 
world  owes  its  recovery  from  the  abominations  of  heathenism.  The  men  who,  in  the 
pride  of  their  investigations  into  the  secrets  of  the  material  world,  turn  a  look  of  scorn 
upon  the  Christian  system  of  belief,  are  not  aware  how  much  of  the  peace  or  order  of 
society,  of  the  happiness  of  their  households  and  the  purity  of  those  dearest  to  them,  are 
owing  to  that  religion.  The  character  of  Christ  is  so  attractive  that  I  cannot  describe 
in  language  the  admiration  with  which  I  regard  it.  To  take  away  his  life  would  seem 
to  be  blotting  the  sun  out  of  the  heavens.  For  my  part,  if  I  thought  that  skepticism 
were  to  gather  strength  and  prevail  and  become  dominant,  I  should  despair  of  the  fate 
of  mankind  in  the  years  that  are  to  come.” — William  Cullen  Bryant. 


PtfigtE  tOt  tjt  SDftgt  We  give  thee  thanks,  our  heavenly  Father,  for  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  its  power  and  for  its  influence  through  the  cen¬ 
turies.  To  us,  as  to  millions  of  thy  children,  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation.  So  direct  our  lives  that  we  may  be  able  to  say  with  thine  apostle 
of  old  that  the  things  which  have  happened  unto  us — both  those  happenings 
over  which  we  have  no  control  and  all  our  conduct  consciously  and  purpose¬ 
fully  willed — may  result  in  the  progress  of  the  gospel.  To  this  end  graciously 
grant  unto  us  the  fulfillment  of  all  our  needs.  Give  us  hearts  of  love,  that 
we  may  seek  only  the  well-being  of  our  fellow  men.  Increase  our  faith  that 
we  may  begin,  carry  forward  and  complete  all  our  work  in  accord  with 
thy  will.  Give  us  patience,  that  we  may  be  gentle,  forbearing,  and  long- 
suffering  in  the  service  of  others.  Give  us  wisdom  that  we  may  ever  plan 
wisely  in  all  our  endeavors.  Give  us  the  joy  of  thy  salvation  and  uphold  us 
by  thy  free  Spirit,  that  we  may  teach  transgressors  thy  ways  and  that  sinners 
may  be  converted  unto  thee.  All  this  we  ask  in  the  name  of  Christ  Jesus, 
our  Lord.  Amen. 


PRAISE 


JUNE  21 

(Btft  ot  1 5c  Spirit 


$et£t  for  tfie  2Dap:  “  He  breathed  on  them,  and  saitli  unto  them,  Receive 
ye  the  Holy  Spirit.” — John  20.  22. 

3Lt£}&Ql\  f0t  tf)C  SDtlJU  John  14-  15-18,  25,  26. 

15  If  ye  love  me,  ye  will  keep  my  commandments.  16  And  I 
will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you  another  Comforter, 
that  he  may  be  with  you  forever,  17  even  the  Spirit  of  truth:  whom 
the  world  cannot  receive;  for  it  beholdeth  him  not,  neither  know- 
eth  him:  ye  know  him,  for  he  abideth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in 
you.  18  I  will  not  leave  you  desolate:  I  come  unto  you.  ...  25 
These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  while  yet  abiding  with  you. 
26  But  the  Comforter,  even  the  Holy  Spirit,  whom  the  Father  will 
send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  to  your 
remembrance  all  that  I  said  unto  you. 

“Our  blest  Redeemer,  ere  he  breathed 
His  tender  last  farewell, 

A  Guide,  a  Comforter  bequeathed 
With  us  to  dwell. 

“He  came  sweet  influence  to  impart, 

A  gracious,  willing  guest, 

While  he  can  find  one  humble  heart 
Wherein  to  rest. 

“And  every  virtue  we  possess, 

And  every  victory  won, 

And  every  thought  of  holiness 

Are  his  alone.”  — Harriet  Auber. 

(0t  2D0JU  “O  thou  that  dwellest  in  the  heavens,  unto  thee 
we  lift  up  our  souls.  We  thank  thee  for  the  encouragement  thou  hast  given 
us  to  come  with  boldness  unto  the  throne  of  grace;  and  for  the  assurance 
that  if  men,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  their  children, 
much  more  will  our  heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask 
him.  Grant  us,  we  pray  thee,  this  great  gift,  which  we  ask  in  the  name 
of  thy  well-beloved  Son.  Let  thy  Spirit  be  shed  on  us  abundantly  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour.  Let  him  be  unto  us  as  a  Spirit  of  light  and  truth, 
to  guide  us  to  the  clear  understanding  of  thy  mind  and  will;  a  Spirit  of 
power  to  quicken  and  convert  us,  and  to  strengthen  us  with  all  needful  might 
in  the  inner  man;  a  Spirit  of  comfort  to  cheer  us  in  our  times  of  trouble;  a 
Spirit  of  holiness  to  purify  us  more  and  more,  and  to  make  us  fruitful  in 
every  good  work.  Pardon  us,  O  God,  wherein  we  have  offended  thee  by 
grieving  or  resisting  thy  Spirit.  Cast  us  not  away  from  thy  presence  and 
take  not  thy  Holy  Spirit  from  us.  But  grant  that  he  may  abide  with  us 
continually,  making  us  to  grow  in  knowledge  and  in  grace,  and  filling  us  with 
his  blessed  and  holy  fruits  which  are  in  all  goodness  and  righteousness  and 
truth.  Pour  out  thy  Spirit  upon  all  flesh,  that  the  whole  earth  may  be  filled 
with  thy  glory.  Pour  out  thy  Spirit  upon  all  the  churches.  Impart  the  con¬ 
solations  of  thy  Spirit  to  all  who  are  suffering.  Graciously  hear  us,  O  God, 
for  the  Lord  Jesus’  sake.”  Amen. 


172 


PRAISE 


JUNE  22 

Kenttoai  of  £>tteng;tf) 


(Ot  t J)t  SDagt  “Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am  with  thee;  be  not  dis¬ 
mayed,  for  I  am  thy  God;  I  will  strengthen  thee;  yea,  I  will  help  thee; 
yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness.” — Isaiah 

41.  10. 

3Lt&$0n  fot  tlje  SDag:  Psalm  86.  1 1— 1 3,  16,  17. 

11  Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Jehovah; 

I  will  walk  in  thy  truth: 

Unite  my  heart  to  fear  thy  name. 

12  I  will  praise  thee,  O  Lord  my  God,  with  my  whole  heart; 

And  I  will  glorify  thy  name  for  evermore. 

13  For  great  is  thy  loving-kindness  toward  me; 

And  thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from  the  lowest  Sheol. 

16  O  turn  unto  me,  and  have  mercy  upon  me; 

Give  thy  strength  unto  thy  servant, 

And  save  the  son  of  thy  handmaid. 

17  Show  me  a  token  for  good, 

That  they  who  hate  me  may  see  it,  and  be  put  to  shame, 

Because  thou,  Jehovah,  hast  helped  me,  and  comforted  me. 

“At  even,  ere  the  sun  was  set, 

The  sick,  O  Lord,  around  thee  lay; 

(  0  in  what  divers  pains  they  met! 

O  with  what  joy  they  went  away! 

“O  Saviour,  Christ,  our  woes  dispel, 

For  some  are  sick,  and  some  are  sad, 

And  some  have  never  loved  thee  well, 

And  some  have  lost  the  love  they  had. 

‘Thy  touch  has  still  its  ancient  power; 

No  word  from  thee  can  fruitless  fall; 

Hear  in  the  solemn  evening  hour, 

And  in  thy  mercy  heal  us  all.”  — Henry  Twells. 

“Existence  comes  to  feel  to  many  of  us  like  a  great  river,  which  is  always  flowing 
with  unbroken  force  downward  to  the  sea.  It  never  stops.  It  is  always  pushing  its 
life  outward.  It  gives  the  sea  no  chance  to  flow  up  into  it.  So  is  the  ever  energetic 
life  of  one  whose  sole  idea  is  to  exert  influence,  to  make  himself  felt  in  some  result.  How 
often  the  river  must  long  to  pause!  How  often  it  must  become  aware  that  its  impetu¬ 
ous  rush  is  losing  for  it  the  richness  of  the  great  deep  salt  sea!  How  often  the  busy  life 
of  man  becomes  aware  that  somewhere  round  it  there  is  richness  which  it  does  not  get 
because  it  opens  outward  only,  and  not  inward!  .  .  .  There  is  need  of  rest  and  recep¬ 
tivity.” 

(Ot  tf)C  Almighty  God,  who  art  the  only  source  of  health 

and  healing,  the  spirit  of  calm  and  the  central  peace  of  the  universe;  grant 
to  us,  thy  children,  such  a  consciousness  of  thy  indwelling  presence  as  may 
give  us  utter  confidence  in  thee.  In  all  pain  and  weariness  and  anxiety  may 
we  throw  ourselves  upon  thy  besetting  care,  that  knowing  ourselves  fenced 
about  by  thy  loving  omnipotence,  we  may  permit  thee  to  give  us  health  and 
strength  and  peace;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

173 


PRAISE 


JUNE  23 

Ok  Uiii'nt  of  Urot 


Persst  for  tlje  &>ag:  “  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy 

laden,  and  1  will  give  you  rest.” — Matthew  11.  28. 

3lz$&on  (or  tfjr  SDap:  Psalm  1 16.  1—7. 

1  I  love  Jehovah,  because  he  heareth 
My  voice  and  my  supplications. 

2  Because  he  hath  inclined  his  ear  unto  me, 

Therefore  will  I  call  upon  him  as  long  as  I  live. 

3  The  cords  of  death  compassed  me, 

And  the  pains  of  Sheol  gat  hold  upon  me: 

I  found  trouble  and  sorrow. 

4  Then  called  I  upon  the  name  of  Jehovah; 

O  Jehovah,  I  beseech  thee,  deliver  my  soul. 

5  Gracious  is  Jehovah,  and  righteous; 

Yea,  our  God  is  merciful. 

6  Jehovah  preserveth  the  simple: 

I  was  brought  low,  and  he  saved  me. 

7  Return  unto  thy  rest,  O  my  soul ; 

For  Jehovah  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee. 


“My  spirit  longeth  for  thee 
Within  my  troubled  breast, 

Although  I  be  unworthy 
Of  so  divine  a  Guest. 

“Of  so  divine  a  Guest, 

Unworthy  though  I  be. 

Yet  has  my  heart  no  rest, 

Unless  it  come  from  thee. 

“Unless  it  come  from  thee. 

In  vain  I  look  around; 

In  all  that  I  can  see, 

No  rest  is  to  be  found. 

“No  rest  is  to  be  found 

But  in  thy  blessed  love; 

O!  let  my  wish  be  crowned 
And  send  it  from  above!” 

— John  Byrom . 


^ZSlJftZ  (Ot  tf)t  SDft#*  “O  Lord,  our  God,  teach  us,  we  beseech  thee,  to 
ask  aright  for  the  right  blessings.  Steer  thou  the  vessel  of  our  soul  toward 
thyself ,  thou  tranquil  Haven  of  all  storm-tossed  souls.  Show  us  the  course 
wherein  we  should  go.  Renew  a  willing  spirit  within  us.  Let  thy  Spirit 
curb  our  wayward  senses,  and  guide  and  enable  us  unto  that  which  is  our 
true  good,  to  keep  thy  laws,  and  in  all  our  works  evermore  to  rejoice  in  thy 
glorious  and  gladdening  presence.  For  thine  is  the  glory  and  praise  from  all 
thy  saints  forever  and  ever.”  Amen. — Saint  Basil  (329-379). 


I74 


PRAISE 


JUNE  24 

% lf)t  ^Lpo^tolic  Blabot#  anti  Sacrifice 


Wti&t  tot  t f\t  2Dap:  “  For  to  this  end  we  labor  and  strive,  because  we 
have  our  hope  set  on  the  living  God.” — 1  Timothy  4.  10. 

tot  tSeSDap:  2  Corinthians  11.  23—28. 

23  Are  they  ministers  of  Christ?  (I  speak  as  one  beside  him¬ 
self)  I  more;  in  labors  more  abundantly,  in  prisons  more  abun¬ 
dantly,  in  stripes  above  measure,  in  deaths  oft.  24  Of  the  Jews 
five  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save  one.  25  Thrice  was  I 
beaten  with  rods,  once  was  I  stoned,  thrice  I  suffered  shipwreck, 
a  night  and  a  day  have  I  been  in  the  deep;  26  in  journeyings  often, 
in  perils  of  rivers,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  from  my  country¬ 
men,  in  perils  from  the  Gentiles,  in  perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in 
the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  among  false  brethren;  27 
in  labor  and  travail,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in 
fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness.  28  Besides  those  things  that 
are  without,  there  is  that  which  presseth  upon  me  daily,  anxiety 
for  all  the  churches. 


“A  man  of  liberal  attainments  addicted  himself  to  the  gospel,  traveling  from  country 
to  country,  enduring  every  species  of  hardship,  encountering  every  extremity  of  danger, 
assaulted  by  the  populace,  punished  by  the  magistrates,  scourged,  beaten,  stoned, 
left  for  dead,  expecting  wherever  he  came  a  renewal  of  the  same  treatment,  yet  when 
driven  from  one  city  preaching  in  the  next,  spending  his  whole  time  in  the  employment, 
sacrificing  to  .it  his  ease,  his  safety,  persisting  in  the  course  to  old  age,  unaltered  by  the 
experience  of  perverseness,  ingratitude,  prejudice,  desertion,  unsubdued  by  anxiety, 
want,  labor,  persecutions,  unwearied  by  long  confinements,  undismayed  by  the  prospect 
of  death.  Such  was  Paul.” — William  Paley. 

fPt  tf)Z  SDftJU  O  God,  we  thank  thee  for  all  good  and  faithful 
men,  for  the  power  of  true  words,  and  holy  lives,  and  unselfish  love,  by  which 
thou  dost  commend  thy  gospel.  Especially  do  we  thank  thee  for  the  example 
of  the  apostle  Paul,  his  spirit  and  his  labors.  Maintain  this  divine  influence 
among  us.  In  the  midst  of  worldliness,  may  the  patient  and  generous  labor 
of  those  who  have  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  bear  testimony  that  cannot  be  gainsaid. 
Let  the  wise  and  courageous  preaching  of  thy  word  rouse  the  consciences  of 
men,  and  bring  them  to  the  cross.  We  thank  thee  for  all  who  believe.  In¬ 
crease  their  faith.  May  they  trust  in  thee  when  their  work  appears  to  be 
in  vain,  and  disappointments  befall  them.  Let  the  discipline  of  pain  and  loss 
be  sanctified  to  us.  May  we  not  measure  thy  grace  by  the  hours  of  happi¬ 
ness  we  have,  nor  attribute  our  sorrow  to  thy  neglect.  Show  us  the  perfect 
life  which  is  through  fellowship  with  Christ  and  conformity  to  his  death. 
Rekindle  the  hopes  of  those  who  have  been  cast  down  by  scorn,  and  treachery, 
by  infirmities  of  body  or  mind.  When  our  lives  pass  into  the  shadow,  and 
we  grope  for  the  wall  like  the  blind,  bear  us  to  thy  dwelling-place,  and  make 
us  at  home  with  thee,  through  Christ.  Amen. 


175 


BROTHERLINESS  JUNE  25 

fit) t  XMng&om  of  C5oti 

fOt  t f)£  “Seek  ye  first  his  kingdom,  and  his  righteousness.” 

Matthew  6.  33. 

HegigfOnfOttSeSDa^:  Matthew  13.  31,  32,  45-50. 

31  Another  parable  set  he  before  them,  saying,  The  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  which  a  man  took, 
and  sowed  in  his  field:  32  which  indeed  is  less  than  all  seeds; 
but  when  it  is  grown,  it  is  greater  than  the  herbs,  and  becometh 
a  tree,  so  that  the  birds  of  the  heaven  come  and  lodge  in  the 
branches  thereof. 

45  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  man  that  is 
a  merchant  seeking  goodly  pearls:  46  and  having  found  one  pearl 
of  great  price,  he  went  and  sold  all  that  he  had,  and  bought  it. 

47  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  net,  that  was 
cast  into  the  sea,  and  gathered  of  every  kind:  48  which,  when  it 
was  filled,  they  drew  up  on  the  beach;  and  they  sat  down,  and 
gathered  the  good  into  vessels,  but  the  bad  they  cast  away.  49  So 
shall  it  be  in  the  end  of  the  world:  the  angels  shall  come  forth, 
and  sever  the  wicked  from  among  the  righteous,  50  and  shall  cast 
them  into  the  furnace  of  fire:  there  shall  be  the  weeping  and  the 
gnashing  of  teeth. 


“God  framed 

Mankind  to  be  one  mighty  family, 

Himself  our  Father,  and  the  world  our  home.” — Coleridge. 


“I  hear  men  speak  continually  of  going  to  a  better  world,  rather  than  of  its  coming 
to  them:  but  in  that  prayer,  which  they  have  straight  from  the  lips  of  the  Light  of  the 
World,  there  is  not  anything  about  going  to  another  world;  only  of  another  government 
coming  into  this,  which  will  constitute  it  a  world  indeed;  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth. 
Thy  kingdom  come;  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.” — John  Ruskin. 

fDt  tl)C  SDftg?  “O  Christ,  thou  hast  bidden  us  pray  for  the  com¬ 
ing  of  thy  Father’s  kingdom,  in  which  his  righteous  will  shall  be  done  on 
earth.  We  have  treasured  thy  wTords,  but  we  have  forgotten  their  mean¬ 
ing  and  thy  great  hope  has  grown  dim  in  thy  church.  We  bless  thee  for 
the  inspired  souls  of  all  ages  who  saw  afar  the  shining  city  of  God  and  by 
faith  left  the  profit  of  the  present  to  follow  their  vision.  We  rejoice  to-day 
that  the  hope  of  these  lonely  hearts  is  becoming  the  clear  faith  of  millions. 
Help  us,  O  Lord,  in  the  courage  of  faith  to  seize  what  has  now  come  so 
near,  that  the  glad  day  of  God  may  dawn  at  last.  As  we  have  mastered 
nature  that  we  might  gain  wealth,  help  us  now  to  master  the  social  relations 
of  mankind  that  we  may  gain  justice  and  a  world  of  brothers.  For  what 
shall  it  profit  our  nation  if  it  gain  numbers  and  riches  and  lose  the  sense  of 
the  living  God  and  the  joy  of  human  brotherhood?  Our  Master,  once  more 
we  make  thy  faith  our  prayer :  ‘Thy  kingdom  come !  Thy  will  be  done 
on  earth!’” — Walter  Rauschenbusch  (1861-1918). 


176 


BROTHERLINESS  JUNE  26 

Eobe  a£  tfie  may  to  C$oti 

$£££>?  (Ot  tfyt  “Everyone  that  loveth  is  begotten  of  God,  and 

knoweth  God.” — 1  John  4.  7. 

3Lt$$on  tot  tfjeSDap:  1  John  3.  18-24. 

18  My  little  children,  let  us  not  love  in  word,  neither  with  the 
tongue;  but  in  deed  and  truth.  19  Hereby  shall  we  know  that  we 
are  of  the  truth,  and  shall  assure  our  heart  before  him:  20  be¬ 
cause  if  our  heart  condemn  us,  God  is  greater  than  our  heart,  and 
knoweth  all  things.  21  Beloved,  if  our  heart  condemn  us  not,  we 
have  boldness  toward  God ;  22  and  whatsoever  we  ask,  we  receive 
of  him,  because  we  keep  his  commandments,  and  do  the  things  that 
are  pleasing  in  his  sight.  23  And  this  is  his  commandment,  that 
we  should  believe  in  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  love 
one  another,  even  as  he  gave  us  commandment.  24  And  he  that 
keepeth  his  commandments  abideth  in  him,  and  he  in  him.  And 
hereby  we  know  that  he  abideth  in  us,  by  the  Spirit  which  he 
gave  us. 

“O  Love  that  wilt  not  let  me  go, 

I  rest  my  weary  soul  in  thee; 

I  give  thee  back  the  life  I  owe, 

That  in  thine  ocean  depths  its  flow 
May  richer,  fuller  be. 

“O  Light  that  followest  all  my  way, 

I  yield  my  flickering  torch  to  thee; 

My  heart  restores  its  borrowed  ray. 

That  in  thy  sunshine’s  blaze  its  day 
May  brighter,  fairer,  be. 

“O  cross  that  liftest  up  my  head, 

I  dare  not  ask  to  fly  from  thee; 

I  lay  in  dust  life’s  glory  dead, 

And  from  the  ground  there  blossoms  red 
Life  that  shall  endless  be.” 

— George  Matheson. 

^taytt  tot  tljt  O  God,  our  Father,  may  these  words  we  have  read 

live  in  our  minds  and  hearts.  May  we  so  love  thee  with  pure  hearts  fervently 
and  our  neighbors  for  thy  sake  that  we  shall  in  very  truth  abide  in  thee  and 
thou  in  us.  May  love  be  to  us  something  more  than  words;  may  it  be  con¬ 
duct — may  it  be  the  supreme  motive  and  the  constant  expression  of  our  living. 
To  this  end  may  all  envy,  jealousy,  harshness,  and  ill  will  die  in  us,  and 
feelings  of  kindness,  compassion,  and  helpfulness  only  abide.  Thus  in  dis¬ 
position  and  in  deed,  in  character  and  in  service  may  we  follow  Jesus  Christ, 
the  true  and  perfect  expression  of  thine  eternal  love.  In  his  name.  Amen. 


177 


BROTHERLINESS  JUNE  27 

?lt)t  Spirit  of  £>tlf=^arafice 


(Ot  tf)t  SDtT^ ♦  “But  I  hold  not  my  life  of  any  account  as  dear  unto 
myself,  so  that  I  may  accomplish  my  course,  and  the  ministry  which  I 
received  from  the  Lord  Jesus.” — Acts  20.  24. 

Jlt&&an  tor  tl)e  £Dap:  Matthew  16.  21-25. 

21  From  that  time  began  Jesus  to  show  unto  his  disciples, 
that  he  must  go  unto  Jerusalem,  and  suffer  many  things  of  the 
elders  and  chief  priests  and  scribes,  and  be  killed,  and  the  third 
day  be  raised  up.  22  And  Peter  took  him,  and  began  to  rebuke 
him,  saying,  Be  it  far  from  thee,  Lord:  this  shall  never  be  unto  thee. 
23  But  he  turned,  and  said  unto  Peter,  Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan: 
thou  art  a  stumbling-block  unto  me:  for  thou  mindest  not  the 
things  of  God,  but  the  things  of  men.  24  Then  said  Jesus  unto  his 
disciples,  If  any  man  would  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself, 
and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  me.  25  For  whosoever  would 
save  his  life  shall  lose  it:  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life  for  my 
sake  shall  find  it. 


“Oh,  where  are  those  noble  souls  to  be  found,  who,  all  unconscious  of  themselves, 
daily  pursue  their  career  like  the  sun,  which  rises  each  morning  in  the  heavens,  and 
scatters  its  gold  to  the  left  and  to  the  right,  on  the  mountains  and  in  the  valleys — those 
noble  souls  that,  by  an  inward  necessity,  here  create  and  renew,  there  beautify  and 
heal,  and  everywhere  bless,  like  the  sun,  that  cannot  but  give  light?  There  is  but  One 
in  whom  such  an  image  of  high  love  has  appeared  to  us  in  its  entire  purity;  and  it  is  only 
by  faith  in  him  that  such  self-sacrificing  love  is  produced.’ — Tholuck. 


“Be  of  good  comfort,  Master  Ridley,  play  the  man!  We  shall  this  day  light  such 
a  candle,  by  God’s  grace,  in  England,  as  I  trust  shall  never  be  put  out.” — Latimer. 


fDt  t SDtljP;  Our  heavenly  Father,  we  are  moved  to  repentance 
for  our  self-indulgent  lives  as  we  read  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  turning 
with  steadfast  will  toward  Jerusalem  and  the  cross.  Remembering  his  sac¬ 
rifice  for  us,  and  the  spirit  of  heroic  consecration  that  animated  the  apostles 
and  that  has  burned  in  the  hearts  of  great  Christian  leaders  of  later  days, 
we  are  bowed  in  humility  and  shame.  O  Lord ,  beget  in  us  something  of  this 
same  spirit.  May  we  truly  deny  ourselves  and  take  up  our  cross  and  follow 
thee.  Help  us  so  to  do  for  his  name’s  sake.  Make  this  home  the  seat  of  domes¬ 
tic  peace  and  happiness  where  the  law  of  kindness  and  forbearance  shall  reign 
and  where  selfishness  shall  be  unknown.  May  all  our  thoughts  he  pure,  and 
our  words  truthful  and  loving.  May  we  hate  sin  with  a  perfect  hatred. 
Let  it  be  our  delight  to  do  the  will  of  our  Father  who  is  in  heaven.  To 
this  end  may  we  grow  daily  in  the  knowledge  of  thy  Word  and  will ;  and, 
with  deeper  convictions  of  obligation  and  duty,  more  heartily  love  and  serve 
thee.  Grant  us  these  blessings,  and  all  others  that  we  need  for  the  sake  of 
thy  dear  Son,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.  Amen. 


vs 


BROTHERLINESS  JUNE  28 

JLato  of  fe>trbtc£ 


for  tlje  SDap:  “  Even  as  the  Son  of  man  came  not  to  be  ministered 
unto,  but  to  minister,  and  to  give  his  life  a  ransom  for  many.” — Matthew 
20.  28. 

&t£>£0n  tot  tf)C  Soap:  Luke  22.  24-27. 

24  And  there  arose  also  a  contention  among  them,  which  of 
them  was  accounted  to  be  greatest.  25  And  he  said  unto  them, 
The  kings  of  the  Gentiles  have  lordship  over  them;  and  they  that 
have  authority  over  them  are  called  Benefactors.  26  But  ye  shall 
not  be  so:  but  he  that  is  the  greater  among  you,  let  him  become 
as  the  younger;  and  he  that  is  chief,  as  he  that  doth  serve.  27  For 
which  is  greater,  he  that  sitteth  at  meat,  or  he  that  serveth?  is  not 
he  that  sitteth  at  meat?  but  I  am  in  the  midst  of  you  as  he  that 
serveth. 

“I  am  certain  that  it  is  impossible  to  keep  the  law  toward  one’s  neighbor  except 
one  loves  him.  The  law  itself  is  infinite,  reaching  to  such  delicacies  of  action  that  the 
man  who  tries  most  will  be  the  man  most  aware  of  defeat.  We  are  not  made  for  law, 
but  for  love.  Love  is  law,  because  it  is  infinitely  more  than  law.” — George  MacDonald. 


“The  principle  is,  that  God  is  the  ungrudging  bestower  of  blessings,  and  that  men 
are  his  stewards  to  distribute  these  blessings.  So  far  as  they  enter  into  his  mind,  the 
delight  will  be  in  spreading  abroad,  not  in  accumulating.  Their  reward  will  be  a  contin¬ 
ually  growing  knowledge  of  his  character  and  purposes.  Their  treasure  will  be  in  what¬ 
ever  things  are  good,  pure,  true;  their  heart  will  be  occupied  with  these.” — F.  D.  Mau¬ 
rice. 

fOC  t!)t  “Almighty  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  we  beseech 

thee  to  send  forth  thy  light  and  thy  truth.  May  they  lead  us.  Teach  us 
how  to  spend  our  days.  Increase  our  confidence  in  thy  love,  wisdom,  and 
justice,  that  so  we  may  live  trusting  in  thee.  Whatsoever  our  hands  find  to 
do  may  we  do  it  with  our  might.  Preserve  us  from  all  sloth  and  idleness, 
and  from  the  misuse  of  any  of  the  powers  thou  hast  committed  unto  us. 
Llelp  us,  whatsoever  we  do,  that  we  may  bring  all  under  Christ’s  law  of 
service.  Hasten  the  time  when  all  who  labor  and  all  who  engage  in  trade 
shall  think  of  their  work  and  their  business,  not  as  means  of  private  gain 
merely,  but  as  means  of  serving  thee  and  their  fellow  men.  For  thou  hast 
taught  us  not  to  think  of  ourselves  only,  but  to  love  our  neighbors  as  our¬ 
selves;  not  to  seek  alone  our  own  good  but  the  good  of  all  men.  Help  us 
to  live  and  to  love,  to  labor  and  to  strive  for  the  welfare  of  our  fellows;  to 
spend  and  be  spent  for  others  that  thus  we  may  enter  into  fellowship  with 
our  Lord  who  counted  his  own  life  not  dear  unto  himself  but  freely  gave  him¬ 
self  for  us.  In  his  name.”  Amen. 


179 


BROTHERLINESS  JUNE  29 

'Efjc  ^ttbitc  ot  SIDtficcjsi  tfjc  Supreme  Cooti 


Uft£>C  (Ot  tl)C  “Through  love  be  servants  one  to  another.  For 

the  whole  law  is  fulfilled  in  one  word,  even  in  this:  Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself.” — Galatians  5.  13  1.  c.,  14. 

2tt£i£i0n  (0t  tljr  SDap;  1  Corinthians  9.  19-22. 

19  For  though  I  was  free  from  all  men,  I  brought  myself  under 
bondage  to  all,  that  I  might  gain  the  more.  20  And  to  the  Jews  I 
became  as  a  Jew,  that  I  might  gain  Jews;  to  them  that  are  under 
the  law,  as  under  the  law,  not  being  myself  under  the  law,  that  I 
might  gain  them  that  are  under  the  law;  21  to  them  that  are  with¬ 
out  law,  as  without  law,  not  being  without  law  to  God,  but  under 
law  to  Christ,  that  I  might  gain  them  that  are  without  law.  22  To 
the  weak  I  became  weak,  that  I  might  gain  the  weak:  I  am  become 
all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  may  by  all  means  save  some. 


“My  own  happiness  is  something  to  desire,  and  yet  I  know  that  I  must  win  it  in 
ministry  to  others.” — /.  G.  Holland. 

“Every  individual  will  be  happier  the  more  clearly  he  understands  that  his  vocation 
consists,  not  in  exacting  service  from  others,  but  in  ministering  to  others,  in  giving  his 
life  the  ransom  of  many.  A  man  who  does  this  will  be  worthy  of  his  food  and  will  not 
fail  to  have  it.” — Tolstoy. 


“Father,  I  will  not  ask  for  wealth  or  fame, 

Though  once  they  would  have  joyed  my  carnal  sense. 

I  shudder  not  to  bear  a  hated  name, 

Wanting  all  wealth,  myself  my  sole  defense. 

But  give  me,  Lord,  eyes  to  behold  the  truth; 

A  seeing  sense  that  knows  the  eternal  right; 

A  heart  with  pity  filled,  and  gentlest  ruth; 

A  manly  faith  that  makes  all  darkness  light; 

Give  me  the  power  to  labor  for  mankind; 

Make  me  the  mouth  of  such  as  cannot  speak; 

Eyes  let  me  be  to  groping  man  and  blind; 

A  conscience  to  the  base;  and  to  the  weak 
Let  me  be  hands  and  feet;  and  to  the  foolish,  mind; 

And  lead  still  farther  on  such  as  thy  Kingdom  seek.” 

—  Theodore  Parker. 


Ptaptt  (0t  tl)e  O  Lord,  our  God,  teach  us  that  the  law  of  loving 

service  is  the  supreme  law  of  thy  kingdom.  Moved  by  the  example  of  Christ, 
our  minds  imbued  with  love  to  him,  may  we,  like  the  apostle  of  old,  free 
from  all  men,  bring  ourselves  under  bondage  to  all.  Make  us  kindly  affec- 
tioned  one  toward  another,  ever  ready  to  minister  and  to  do  good  to  all  as 
we  have  opportunity.  May  we  never  be  weary  in  well-doing,  knowing  that 
we  shall  reap  if  we  faint  not.  Father  of  all,  receive  our  intercessions  for  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  Bless  the  citizenship  of  this  nation;  may  thy 
kingdom  come  and  thy  will  be  done  in  our  neighborhood,  and  country,  and 
in  all  the  world.  In  Jesus’  name.  Amen. 


180 


BROTHERLINESS  JUNE  30 

foetal  ^oltoanty  of  humanity 


Wtl&t  tOZ  tf)e  Day:  “Verily  1  say  unto  you,  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto 
one  of  these  my  brethren,  even  these  least,  ye  did  it  unto  me.” — Matthew 
25.  40. 

Jit  £>£>011  fOE  tl)t  Day l  1  Corinthians  12.  14,  20—27. 

14  For  the  body  is  not  one  member,  but  many.  ...  20  But 

now  they  are  many  members,  but  one  body.  21  And  the  eye  can¬ 
not  say  to  the  hand,  I  have  no  need  of  thee :  or  again  the  head 
to  the  feet,  I  have  no  need  of  you.  22  Nay,  much  rather,  those 
members  of  the  body  which  seem  to  be  more  feeble  are  necessary: 
23  and  those  parts  of  the  body,  which  we  think  to  be  less  honor¬ 
able,  upon  these  we  bestow  more  abundant  honor;  and  our  uncomely 
parts  have  more  abundant  comeliness;  24  whereas  our  comely  parts 
have  no  need:  but  God  tempered  the  body  together,  giving  more 
abundant  honor  to  that  part  which  lacked;  25  that  there  should  be 
no  schism  in  the  body;  but  that  the  members  should  have  the  same 
care  one  for  another.  26  And  whether  one  member  suffereth,  all  the 
members  suffer  with  it;  or  one  member  is  honored,  all  the  members 
rejoice  with  it.  27  Now  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  severally 
members  thereof. 


“The  social  unity  of  the  race  was  fundamental  to  Jesus.  None  ever  felt  it  more 
deeply.  To  him  it  was  sacred  and  divine.  Anything  that  substitutes  antagonism 
for  fraternity  is  evil  to  him.  The  natural  social  cohesion  of  men,  the  blind  instinct 
of  h  uman  nature,  he  lifted  by  the  insight  of  religion  and  constituted  it  a  fundamental 
principle  of  life.  He  made  it  the  business  of  Christianity  to  widen  the  area  of  com¬ 
radeship.” —  IV alter  Rauschenbusch. 


“Jesus  taught  us  to  make  every  human  interest  we  touch  as  precious  as  our  own, 
and  to  treat  all  persons  with  whom  we  deal  as  members  of  that  beneficent  system  of 
mutual  good  will  which  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.” — IVilliam  DeJVitt  Hyde. 

prayer  for  tljt  Day:  O  God,  our  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  universal 
brotherhood.  Thou  hast  made  of  one  every  nation  of  men  to  dwell  on  all 
the  face  of  the  earth.  Thou  art  the  common  Father  of  us  all,  and  all  we 
are  brethren.  O  God,  give  us  grace  to  realize  this  great  truth  in  all  its  impli¬ 
cations.  May  we  labor  to  make  real  among  men  everywhere  the  sense  of 
human  brotherhood  and  the  practice  of  brotherliness.  As  we  look  out  upon 
men  in  suffering,  in  destitution,  in  ignorance,  in  sin,  may  we  realize  that  they 
are  members  of  our  family,  thy  children,  and  that  they  rightfully  claim  our 
love,  our  sympathy,  our  service.  Even  as  Christ  identified  himself  with  us, 
taking  upon  himself  the  form  of  a  servant  and  being  made  in  the  likeness 
of  them,  so  may  we  identify  ourselves  with  the  poorest  and  neediest  of  our 

brethren,  making  their  wants  our  own,  taking  their  burdens  upon  our  shoul¬ 
ders  and  seeking  to  lead  them  into  the  larger  and  fuller  life  which  we,  as 

especially  blessed  of  thee,  are  privileged  to  enjoy.  All  this  we  ask  in  the 

name  of  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  i 

Mntbergal  Brotfjetfjood 


fOt  tj)0  j3Dft£t  ‘‘God  .  .  .  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations 

of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth.” — Acts  17*  26  (King 
James  version). 

Jlt0$on  tor  tfje  SDap:  Isaiah  2.  2—4. 

2  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  latter  days  that  the  mountain 
of  Jehovah’s  house  shall  be  established  on  the  top  of  the  mountains, 
and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills  ;  and  all  nations  shall  flow  unto 
it.  3  And  many  people  shall  go  and  say,  Come  ye,  and  let  us  go 
up  to  the  mountain  of  Jehovah,  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob; 
and  he  will  teach  us  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  his  paths:  for 
out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of  Jehovah  from 
Jerusalem.  4  And  he  will  judge  between  the  nations,  and  will  de¬ 
cide  concerning  many  peoples;  and  they  shall  beat  their  swords 
into  plowshares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning-hooks ;  nation  shall 
not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any 
more. 


“The  crest  and  crowning  of  all  good, 

Life’s  final  star,  is  Brotherhood; 

For  it  will  bring  again  to  Earth 
Her  long-lost  Poesy  and  Mirth; 

Will  send  new  light  on  every  face, 

A  kingly  power  upon  the  race, 

And  till  it  comes,  we  men  are  slaves, 

And  travel  downward  to  the  dust  of  graves. 

Come  clear  the  way,  then,  clear  the  way; 

Blind  creeds  and  kings  have  had  their  day, 

Our  hope  is  in  the  aftermath—  ■ 

Our  hope  is  in  heroic  men, 

Star-led  to  build  the  world  again. 

To  this  event  the  ages  ran; 

Make  way  for  Brotherhood — make  way  for  Man.’’ 

— Edwin  Markham. 


Ptapet  foi  tljt  2Dap:  “  O  Thou  who  hast  made  of  one  blood  all  nations 
of  men,  help  us  to  see  the  largeness  and  wisdom  of  thy  ways.  Thou  dost  love 
all  men  and  dost  yearn  to  bring  them  into  the  fullness  of  thine  own  rich 
life.  They  are  all  enfolded  in  thy  plans.  While  we  glory  in  the  Christ 
whom  thou  hast  given  to  us,  preserve  us,  heavenly  Father,  from  spiritual 
arrogance  and  race  pride.  May  our  eyes  not  be  dim  to  the  goodness  and 
truth  which  thou  hast  revealed  to  others.  Make  us  more  like  Christ  who 
rejoiced  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  centurion  and  praised  the  noble  deeds 
of  the  good  Samaritan.  Open  our  eyes,  O  Lord,  to  the  mystery  revealed 
in  Christ  and  now  proclaimed  afresh  in  the  contact  of  the  races,  the  mystery 
that  in  thy  kingdom  Gentiles  are  fellow  heirs  with  the  Jews,  heathen  nations 
with  the  Christian.  May  the  day  soon  come  when  race  pride  and  prejudice 
shall  vanish  from  the  earth  and  universal  good  zvill  prevail.  Forgive,  O 
Lord,  our  narrowness,  our  selfishness,  our  pride,  and  lead  us  into  the  fullness 
of  thine  own  large  heart  and  infinite  life.  Make  us  in  truth  thy  children, 
through  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Sidney  L.  Gulick  (b.  i860). 

182 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  2 

%Mn$  at  prace  mm  m 


fOt  tj)£  SDagJ  “If  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  in  you  lieth,  be  at 
peace  with  all  men.” — Romans  12.  18. 

ioz  tfjeSDap:  Ephesians  4.  29—31. 

.  29  Let  no  corrupt  speech  proceed  out  of  your  mouth,  but  such 
as  is  good  for  edifying  as  the  need  may  be,  that  it  may  give  grace 
to  them  that  hear.  30  And  grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  in 
whom  ye  were  sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption.  31  Let  all  bit¬ 
terness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamor,  and  railing,  be  put  away 
from  you,  with  all  malice:  32  and  be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  ten¬ 
derhearted,  forgiving  each  other,  even  as  God  also  in  Christ  for¬ 
gave  you. 


“Oh,  my  dear  friends,  you  who  are  letting  miserable  misunderstandings  run  on  from 
year  to  year,  meaning  to  clear  them  up  some  day;  you  who  are  keeping  wretched  quar¬ 
rels  alive  because  you  cannot  quite  make  up  you  mind  that  now  is  the  day  to  sacrifice 
your  pride  and  kill  them;  you  who  are  passing  men  sullenly  upon  the  street,  not  speaking 
to  them  out  of  some  silly  spite,  and  yet  knowing  that  it  would  fill  you  with  shame  and 
remorse  if  you  heard  that  one  of  those  men  were  dead  to-morrow  morning;  you  who  are 
letting  your  neighbor  starve,  till  you  hear  that  he  is  dying  of  starvation;  or  letting  your 
friend’s  heart  ache  for  a  word  of  appreciation  or  sympathy,  which  you  mean  to  give  him 
some  day — if  you  only  could  know  and  see  and  feel,  all  of  a  sudden,  that  ‘the  time  is 
short,’  how  it  would  break  the  spell!  How  you  would  go  instantly  and  do  the  thing 
which  you  might  never  have  another  chance  to  do!” — Phillips  Brooks. 


Ptaptt  tot  tl )z  SDag:  ‘  ‘Almighty  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  fill  us  with 
love  to  thee  who  hast  first  loved  us.  And  teach  us,  as  becometh  the  children 
of  so  many  mercies,  to  be  kind  and  compassionate  toward  our  fellow  men, 
loving  them  out  of  a  pure  and  fervent  heart  and  doing  them  good  as  we 
have  opportunity.  Above  all,  give  us  a  deep  and  abiding  sense  of  the  love 
of  Christ  which  passeth  knowledge;  and  grant  that  it  may  constrain  us  by 
thy  grace  to  walk  in  love,  as  Christ  also  loved  us.  Dispose  us  to  bear  one 
another’s  burdens,  so  as  to  fulfill  the  law  of  Christ.  Help  us  to  remember 
the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive; 
and  make  us  willing  if  need  be,  to  deny  ourselves,  so  as  the  more  abundantly 
to  supply  the  wants  of  others.  Teach  us,  as  much  as  lieth  in  us,  to  live  peace¬ 
ably  with  all  men,  recompensing  to  no  man  evil  for  evil,  but  overcoming  evil 
with  good.  Let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamor,  and  evil¬ 
speaking  be  put  away  from  us,  with  all  malice;  and  make  us  kind,  tender¬ 
hearted,  and  forgiving,  even  as  thou  for  Christ’s  sake  forgivest  us.  We  pray 
for  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  our  country;  for  the  speedy  enlightenment 
and  conversion  of  all  nations.  And  now,  O  God,  we  commend  ourselves  to 
thee.  Watch  over  us;  deliver  us  from  all  danger;  aid  us  in  all  our  lawful 
occupations;  and  keep  our  souls  unspotted  from  the  world.  In  the  name  of 
thy  beloved  Son,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  3 

prace  dOlttfi  Btot^etfioob 


fot  “He  maketh  wars  to  cease  unto  the  end  of  the 

earth ; 

He  breaketh  the  bow,  and  cutteth  the  spear  in 
sunder.” — Psalm  46.  9. 

JLc$&on  for  tficSDap:  Micah  4.  1-4. 

1  But  in  the  latter  days  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the  moun¬ 
tain  of  Jehovah’s  house  shall  be  established  on  the  top  of  the  moun¬ 
tains,  and  it  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills;  and  peoples  shall 
flow  unto  it.  2  And  many  nations  shall  go  and  say,  Come  ye,  and 
let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  Jehovah,  and  to  the  house  of  the 
God  of  Jacob;  and  he  will  teach  us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk 
in  his  paths.  For  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word 
of  Jehovah  from  Jerusalem;  3  and  he  will  judge  between  many 
peoples,  and  will  decide  concerning  strong  nations  afar  off ;  and 
they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  plowshares,  and  their  spears  into 
pruning-hooks ;  nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither 
shall  they  learn  war  any  more.  4  But  they  shall  sit  every  man 
under  his  vine  and  under  his  fig-tree;  and  none  shall  make  them 
afraid;  for  the  mouth  of  Jehovah  of  hosts  hath  spoken  it. 


“Men  pray  for  peace,  and  still  retain  and  express  those  racial  prejudices  that  are 
one  of  the  most  prolific  causes  of  war.  They  ask  for  human  brotherhood  to  come,  but 
they  are  most  unbrotherly  to  the  foreigners  within  their  own  communities.  Women 
piously  frame  petitions  in  behalf  of  the  day  when  there  shall  be  no  barbarian,  Scythian, 
bondman,  freeman;  but  Christ  all  and  in  all,  but  all  the  while  they  violate  every 
Christian  principle  in  their  dealings  with  their  servants,  their  social  inferiors,  or  the 
aliens  of  their  city.  Their  prayers  are  long-range  dreams  that  do  not  touch  their  lives. 
And  least  of  all  do  many  of  us,  when  we  pray  for  peace,  purge  our  own  hearts  of  that 
rancor  that  lies  behind  all  war.” — Harry  Emerson  Fosdick. 


ptapct  tot  t$e  SDap:  “  O  Lord,  since  first  the  blood  of  Abel  cried  to  thee 
from  the  ground,  this  earth  of  thine  has  been  defiled  with  the  blood  of  man 
shed  by  his  brother’s  hand.  The  centuries  sob  with  the  ceaseless  horrors  of 
war.  .  .  .  Our  spirits  cry  out  to  thee  in  revolt  against  it,  and  we  know 

that  our  righteous  anger  is  answered  by  thy  holy  wrath.  .  .  .  Grant  to  the 
rulers  of  nations  faith  in  the  possibility  of  peace  through  justice,  and  grant  to 
the  common  people  a  new  and  stern  enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  peace.  Bless 
our  soldiers  and  sailors  for  their  swift  obedience  and  their  willingness  to 
answer  to  the  call  of  duty,  but  inspire  them  none  the  less  with  a  hatred  of 
war,  and  may  they  never  for  love  of  private  glory  or  advancement  provoke  its 
coming.  May  our  young  men  still  rejoice  to  die  for  their  country  with  the 
valor  of  their  fathers,  but  teach  our  age  nobler  methods  of  matching  our 
strength  and  more  effective  ways  of  giving  our  lives  for  the  flag.  O  thou 
strong  Father  of  all  nations ,  draw  all  thy  great  family  together  with  an  in¬ 
creasing  sense  of  our  common  blood  and  destiny,  that  peace  may  come  on 
earth  at  last,  and  thy  sun  may  shed  its  light  rejoicing  on  a  holy  brotherhood  of 
peoples.”  Amen. — Walter  Rausclienbusch  (1861—1918). 

184 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  4 

/Rational  OtRclfare 

OccjSe  for  t&r  2Dag:  “  Hearken  unto  my  voice,  and  1  will  be  your  God, 
and  ye  shall  be  my  people;  and  walk  ye  in  all  the  way  that  1  command 
you,  that  it  may  be  well  with  you.” — - Jeremiah  7.  23. 

Psalm  33.  12-15,  18. 

12  Blessed  is  the  nation  whose  God  is  Jehovah, 

The  people  whom  he  hath  chosen  for  his  own  inheritance. 

13  Jehovah  looketh  from  heaven; 

He  beholdeth  all  the  sons  of  men; 

14  From  the  place  of  his  habitation  he  looketh  forth 
Upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 

15  He  that  fashioneth  the  hearts  of  them  all, 

That  considereth  all  their  works. 

•  ••••••••••• 

18  Behold,  the  eye  of  Jehovah  is  upon  them  that  fear  him, 
Upon  them  that  hope  in  his  loving-kindness. 

“O  Lord,  our  God,  thy  mighty  hand 
Hath  made  our  country  free; 

From  all  her  broad  and  happy  land 
May  worship  rise  to  thee. 

Fulfill  the  promise  of  her  youth. 

Her  liberty  defend; 

By  law  and  order,  love  and  truth, 

America  befriend! 

“The  strength  of  every  State  increase 
In  Union’s  golden  chain; 

Her  thousand  cities  fill  with  peace. 

Her  million  fields  with  grain! 

The  virtues  of  her  mingled  blood 
In  one  new  people  blend; 

By  unity  and  brotherhood, 

America  befriend! 

“Through  all  the  waiting  land  proclaim 
The  gospel  of  good  will; 

And  may  the  joy  of  Jesus’  name 
In  every  bosom  thrill. 

O’er  hill  and  vale,  from  sea  to  sea, 

Thy  holy  reign  extend; 

By  faith  and  hope  and  charity, 

America  befriend !”  — Henry  van  Dyke. 

(Ot  tfjt  “O  Lord  of  hosts,  who  didst  guide  our  fathers  out  of 

the  house  of  bondage,  bind  up  the  nation’s  wounds  and  make  us  whole. 
Save  us  from  arrogance,  intolerance,  self-deception  and  greed.  Help  us  to 
close  the  widening  chasm  between  the  strong  and  weak,  the  rich  and  poor, 
and  to  cast  into  it  all  pride  and  prejudice,  luxury  and  lust,  envy  and  covetous¬ 
ness,  the  insolence  of  riches  with  the  rancor  of  poverty.  So  may  we  establish 
the  brotherhood  of  the  Kingdom,  and  build  in  our  land  the  City  of  God 
foretold  by  the  mouth  of  all  the  holy  prophets  since  the  world  began.  We 
ask  this  in  his  name  who  maketh  to  be  of  one  mind  in  a  house,  the  Desire  of 
all  nations,  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — Frederick  Harris  (b.  1873). 

185 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  5 

£Dut  /Ration  a£  a  Cjjttettan  ^tate 


IPtEgi?  tot  tj)E  SDflJG  “In  righteousness  shalt  thou  be  established:  thou 
shalt  be  far  from  oppression,  for  thou  shalt  not  fear;  and  from  terror,  for 
it  shall  not  come  near  thee.” — Isaiah  54.  14. 

3 lt$$an  tot  tjjcSDap;  Exodus  19.  3-8. 

3  And  Moses  went  up  unto  God,  and  Jehovah  called  unto  him 
out  of  the  mountain,  saying,  Thus  shalt  thou  say  to  the  house  of 
Jacob,  and  tell  the  children  of  Israel:  4  Ye  have  seen  what  I  did 
unto  the  Egyptians,  and  how  I  bare  you  on  eagles’  wings,  and 
brought  you  unto  myself.  5  Now  therefore,  if  ye  will  obey  my 
voice  indeed,  and  keep  my  covenant,  then  ye  shall  be  mine  own 
possession  from  among  all  peoples:  for  all  the  earth  is  mine:  6  and 
ye  shall  be  unto  me  a  kingdom  of  priests,  and  a  holy  nation.  These 
are  the  words  which  thou  shalt  speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel. 
7  And  Moses  came  and  called  for  the  elders  of  the  people,  and  set 
before  them  all  these  words  which  Jehovah  commanded  him.  8 
And  all  the  people  answered  together,  and  said,  All  that  Jehovah 
hath  spoken  we  will  do. 


“Our  country  hath  a  gospel  of  her  own 
To  preach  and  practice  before  all  the  world — 

The  freedom  and  divinity  of  man, 

The  glorious  claims  of  human  brotherhood,  .  .  . 

And  the  soul’s  fealty  to  none  but  God.” 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 

“Let  us  not  forget  the  religious  character  of  our  origin.  Our  fathers  were  brought 
here  by  their  high  veneration  for  the  Christian  religion.  They  journeyed  by  its  light, 
and  labored  in  its  hope.  They  sought  to  incorporate  its  principles  with  the  elements 
of  their  society,  and  to  diffuse  its  influence  through  all  their  institutions — civil,  political, 
and  literary.  Let  us  cherish  these  sentiments,  and  extend  this  influence  still  more 
widely,  in  the  full  conviction  that  this  is  the  happiest  society,  which  partakes  in  the 
highest  degree  of  the  mild  and  peaceable  spirit  of  Christianity.” — Daniel  Webster. 


pea yzi  (or  t SDajn  “  Our  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the  great  land  in 
which  we  live.  We  bless  thee  for  all  the  good  institutions  which  are  estab¬ 
lished  here.  We  thank  thee  for  whatsoever  of  justice  is  made  into  law  of 
the  state,  for  all  of  piety,  of  loving-kindness,  and  tender  mercy  which  are 
taught  in  many  a  various  church,  and  practiced  by  noble  women  and  earnest 
men.  We  bless  thee  for  the  great  men  whom  thou  gavest  us  at  every  period 
of  our  nation’s  history;  we  thank  thee  for  such  as  were  wise  in  council,  those 
also  who  were  valiant  in  fight,  and  by  whose  right  arm  our  redemption  was 
wrought  out.  We  bless  thee  for  the  schools  which  let  light  in  on  many  a 
dark  and  barren  place;  and  we  thank  thee  for  noble  and  generous  men  and 
women  in  our  own  day,  who  speak  as  they  are  moved  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
turn  many  unto  righteousness.  But  we  mourn  over  the  wickedness  that  is 
still  so  common  in  our  land.  May  there  be  in  us  such  a  reverence  for  thy 
being  that  every  day  we  shall  serve  thee  with  blameless  fidelity  and  grow 
constantly  in  grace.  So  may  thy  kingdom  come,  and  thy  will  be  done  on 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.”  Amen. — Theodore  Parker  (1810-1860). 

186 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  6 


spimsittp  to  tf>t  poor  and  t&e  flDppteg^td 


s' 

tPtt&t  tot  tge  2Dap: 


“The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me, 

Because  he  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings 
to  the  poor.” 

— Luke  4.  18. 


itejs»js»on  for  tfie  2Da^:  Matthew  25.  34-40- 


34  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his  right  hand,  Come, 
ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world:  35  for  I  was  hungry,  and  ye 
gave  me  to  eat:  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  to  drink:  I  was  a 
stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in;  36  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me:  I  was 
sick  and  ye  visited  me:  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me. 

37  Then  shall  the  righteous  answer  him,  saying,  Lord,  when  saw 
we  thee  hungry,  and  fed  thee?  or  athirst,  and  gave  thee  drink? 

38  And  when  saw  we  thee  a  stranger,  and  took  thee  in?  or  naked, 
and  clothed  thee?  39  And  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and 
came  unto  thee?  40  And  the  King  shall  answer  and  say  unto 
them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  one  of 
these  my  brethren,  even  these  least,  ye  did  it  unto  me. 


“The  bravely  dumb  that  did  their  deed, 

And  scorned  to  blot  it  with  a  name — 

Men  of  the  plain  heroic  breed, 

That  loved  Heaven’s  silence  more  than  fame: 

Such  lived  not  in  the  past  alone, 

But  thread  to-day  the  unheeding  street, 

And  stairs  to  Sin  and  Famine  known 
Sing  with  the  welcome  of  their  feet. 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 

“Each  year  we  should  see  more  and  more  of  ourselves  in  the  lives  of  others;  we 
should  identify  ourselves  more  closely  with  them.  Here,  in  this  crowded  city,  where- 
ever  we  walk,  wherever  we  look;  in  the  thick,  swarming  street,  in  the  busy  offices, 
in  the  low  stifling  dens,  we  should  say:  ‘There  am  I.  I  see  myself  in  all  these  tribes: 
I  am  one  with  all  these  poor  suff  erers.  They  work  for  me;  our  souls  run  together;  we  are 
one.  The  whole  teeming  life  is  my  life;  I  fling  myself  into  all  these  efforts — its  hopes, 
its  labors,  its  weariness,  its  pain,  its  undying  hope.  I  grow  with  its  growth;  I  feel  my¬ 
self  alive  in  it:  and  therefore  I  am  utterly  committed  to  it.  I  am  at  its  disposal.  These 
weary  folk  shall  have  my  very  best;  and  if  the  wolf  comes  to  devour  them,  it  is  I  who 
ought  to  die.’” — II.  Scott  Holland. 


(Ot  tf)t  “Have  mercy  upon  us,  O  Lord,  have  mercy  upon 

us;  comfort  the  orphan,  the  needy,  the  afflicted,  the  stranger,  the  sorrowful, 
and  the  fallen ;  relieve  the  oppressed,  gather  together  the  dispersed,  recall  the 
captives,  visit  the  sick,  blot  out  the  sins  of  the  penitent;  pour  out  on  all 
Christian  people  the  abundance  of  thy  help.  Grant  that  we,  thy  servants , 
may  minister  in  thy  name  to  all  who  are  poor  and  oppressed.  Give  unto  us 
of  thy  spirit  that  of  our  substance  we  may  relieve  the  wants  of  many.  Wipe 
out  our  many  offenses,  and  of  thy  great  mercy,  grant  to  the  departed  eternal 
rest.”  Amen. — Mozarahic  Breviary. 

IS  7 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  7 

feKtbice  to  iUttle  Cfjilbten 


fot  tf)t  “And  whoso  shall  receive  one  such  little  child  in 

my  name  receiveth  me.” — Matthew  18.  5. 

ilejOjSionfoctbtSDap:  Mark  10.  13-16. 

13  And  they  were  bringing  unto  him  little  children,  that  he 
should  touch  them:  and  the  disciples  rebuked  them.  14  But  when 
Jesus  saw  it,  he  was  moved  with  indignation,  and  said  unto  them, 
Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me;  forbid  them  not:  for 
to  such  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  God.  15  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
Whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child, 
he  shall  in  no  wise  enter  therein.  16  And  he  took  them  in  his 
arms,  and  blessed  them,  laying  his  hands  upon  them. 


“Dear  Lord,  I  do  not  ask 

That  thou  shouldst  give  me  some  high  work  of  thine, 

Some  noble  calling  or  some  wondrous  task — 

Give  me  a  little  hand  to  hold  in  mine. 

“The  only  crown  I  ask,  dear  Lord,  to  wear 
Is  this — that  I  may  teach  a  little  child 
How  beautiful,  oh  how  divinely  fair 

Is  thy  dear  face,  so  loving,  sweet,  and  mild! 

“I  do  not  need  to  ask  for  more  than  this. 

My  opportunity!  ’Tis  standing  at  my  door. 

What  sorrow  if  this  blessing  I  should  miss! 

A  little  child!  Why  should  I  ask  for  more?” 

• — Marion  B.  Craig. 

fot  tf}Z  “O  God,  we  pray  thee  for  those  who  come  after 

us,  for  our  children,  and  the  children  of  our  friends,  and  for  all  the  young 
lives  that  are  marching  up  from  the  gates  of  birth,  pure  and  eager,  with 
the  morning  sunshine  on  their  faces.  We  remember  with  a  pang  that  these 
will  live  in  the  world  we  are  making  for  them.  We  are  wasting  the  resources 
of  the  earth  in  our  headlong  greed,  and  they  will  suffer  want.  We  are 
building  sunless  houses  and  joyless  cities  for  our  profit,  and  they  must  dwell 
therein.  .  .  .  Save  us  from  maiming  the  innocent  ones  who  come  after 

us  by  the  added  cruelty  of  our  sins.  Help  us  to  break  the  ancient  force  of 
evil  by  a  holy  and  steadfast  will  and  to  endow  our  children  with  purer  blood 
and  nobler  thoughts.  Grant  us  grace  to  leave  the  earth  fairer  than  we 
found  it ;  to  build  upon  it  cities  of  God  in  which  the  cry  of  needless  pain 
shall  cease;  and  to  put  the  yoke  of  Christ  upon  our  business  life,  that  it  may 
serve  and  not  destroy.  .  .  .  Grant  us  a  vision  of  the  far-off  years  as  they 

may  be  if  redeemed  by  the  sons  of  God,  that  we  may  take  heart  and  do 
battle  for  thy  children  and  ours.,,  Amen. — Walter  Rauschenbusch  (1861- 
1918). 


BROTHERLINESS 


JULY  8 

Brotjjtrlg  Jlobt 


PEEgfE  (0E  tj)E  “By  this  shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  dis¬ 

ciples,  if  ye  have  love  one  to  another.” — John  13.  35. 

JLt& 0on  tot  t&eSDap:  John  15.  12—17. 

12  This  is  my  commandment,  that  ye  love  one  another,  even 
as  I  have  loved  you.  13  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that 
a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends.  14  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye 
do  the  things  which  I  command  you.  15  No  longer  do  I  call  you 
servants;  for  the  servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth:  but 
I  have  called  you  friends;  for  all  things  that  I  heard  from  my 
Father  I  have  made  known  unto  you.  16  Ye  did  not  choose  me,  but 
I  chose  you,  and  appointed  you,  that  ye  should  go  and  bear  fruit, 
and  that  your  fruit  should  abide:  that  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  of 
the  Father  in  my  name,  he  may  give  it  you.  17  These  things  I 
command  you,  that  ye  may  love  one  another. 


“Love  as  many  persons  and  as  many  creatures  as  you  possibly  can.  Love  is  the 
only  power  by  which  you  can  make  yourself  rich  in  a  moral  world.” — John  Stuart 
Blackie. 


“We  may,  if  we  choose,  make  the  worst  of  one  another.  Everyone  has  his  weak 
points;  everyone  has  his  faults;  we  may  make  the  worst  of  these.  But  we  may  also 
make  the  best  of  one  another.  By  loving  whatever  is  lovable  in  those  around  us,  love 
will  flow  back  from  them  to  us,  and  life  will  become  a  pleasure  instead  of  a  pain;  and 
earth  will  become  like  heaven,  and  we  shall  become  not  unworthy  followers  of  Him 
whose  name  is  Love.” — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 


Ptapcc  tor  tf)t  2Dap:  “  O  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour,  who  hast  commanded 
us  to  love  one  another,  grant  us  grace  that,  having  received  thine  undeserved 
bounty,  we  may  love  every  man  in  thee  and  for  thee.  We  implore  thy 
clemency  for  all;  but  especially  for  the  friends  whom  thy  love  has  given  to 
us.  Love  thou  them,  O  thou  Fountain  of  love,  and  make  them  to  love  thee 
with  all  their  heart,  with  all  their  mind,  and  with  all  their  soul,  that  those 
things  only  which  are  pleasing  to  thee  they  may  will  and  speak  and  do.  And 
though  our  prayer  is  cold,  because  our  charity  is  so  little  fervent,  yet  thou 
art  rich  in  mercy.  Measure  not  thy  goodness  to  them  by  the  dullness  of 
our  devotion;  but  as  thy  kindness  surpasseth  all  human  affection,  so  let  thy 
hearing  transcend  our  prayer.  Do  thou  to  them  what  is  expedient  for  them, 
according  to  thy  will,  that  they  being  always  and  everywhere  ruled  and  pro¬ 
tected  by  thee,  may  attain  in  the  end  to  everlasting  life;  and  to  thee,  with 
the  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  all  honor  and  praise  forever  and  ever.” 
Amen. — Anselm  (103 3- 1109). 


189 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  9 

Cf)ttetian  2Dutp  ot  2Stotf)etl£  Binlme££> 


(ot  tf)t  2Da^:  “Be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tender-hearted,  for¬ 
giving  each  other,  even  as  God  also  in  Christ  forgave  you.” — Ephesians 
4.  32. 

3Lt$$on  (Ot  (fit  2Dap:  Isaiah  58.  6-1 1. 

6  Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen?  to  loose  the  bonds 
of  wickedness,  to  undo  the  bands  of  the  yoke,  and  to  let  the  op¬ 
pressed  go  free,  and  that  ye  break  every  yoke?  7  Is  it  not  to  deal 
thy  bread  to  the  hungry,  and  that  thou  bring  the  poor  that  are 
cast  out  to  thy  house?  when  thou  seest  the  naked,  that  thou  cover 
him;  and  that  thou  hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own  flesh?  8  Then 
shall  thy  light  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and  thy  healing  shall 
spring  forth  speedily:  and  thy  righteousness  shall  go  before  thee; 
the  glory  of  Jehovah  shall  be  thy  rearward.  9  Then  shalt  thou  call, 
and  Jehovah  will  answer;  thou  shalt  cry,  and  he  will  say,  Here  I  am. 

If  thou  take  away  from  the  midst  of  thee  the  yoke,  the  putting 
forth  of  the  finger,  and  speaking  wickedly;  10  and  if  thou  draw 
out  thy  soul  to  the  hungry,  and  satisfy  the  afflicted  soul;  then  shall 
thy  light  rise  in  darkness,  and  thine  obscurity  be  as  the  noonday; 
11  and  Jehovah  will  guide  thee  continually,  and  satisfy  thy  soul  in 
dry  places,  and  make  strong  thy  bones;  and  thou  shalt  be  like  a 
watered  garden,  and  like  a  spring  of  water,  whose  waters  fail  not. 

“Brotherhood  means  a  mutuality  of  respect  among  all  nationalities;  for  the  Nor¬ 
wegians,  the  Hungarians,  the  Poles,  and  all  the  oppressed  races  that  seek  our  shores, 
for  in  many  respects  they  are  more  deserving  than  we  are.  The  Italian  may  bring  us 
the  Black  Hand,  but  he  brings  us  also  a  love  of  art;  the  Scandinavian  brings  industry 
and  thrift,  the  Negro  brings  his  sunny  disposition,  and  the  Chinese  brings  us  patience 
and  economy,  which  we  Americans  are  sorely  deficient  in.  Each  brings  us  something 
besides  cheap  labor.  .  .  .  We  must  recognize  in  them  the  elements  of  humanity  that  we 
lack.  .  .  .  What  are  we  doing  to  them?  The  merchant  owes  more  than  a  weekly 
salary  to  his  employee;  the  head  of  the  house  owes  something  more  than  wages  to  the 
cook.  The  man  in  the  factory,  the  boy  or  girl  behind  the  counter,  all  whom  we  meet 
on  the  street  are  our  brothers  and  sisters  and  deserve  our  love  and  sacrifice.” — Lyman 
Abbott. 

^Z&ptZ  (Ot  tl)t  “Giver  of  all  good,  and  Fountain  of  all  joy,  what 

rich  feasts  for  our  senses  and  our  souls  does  thy  Fatherly  love  offer  anew 
with  each  returning  morning!  We  see  thy  mercy  freshly  revealed  in  the 
light  and  privilege  of  this  new  day.  Teach  us,  O  Father,  to  imitate  thine 
own  boundless  beneficence.  Freely  as  we  have  received,  so  freely  may  we 
give.  We  would  not  selfishly  appropriate  thy  favor,  but  would  know  the 
deeper  joy  of  ministering  to  others’  needs.  Quicken  within  us  the  fountains 
of  generosity;  warm  our  sympathies  toward  the  sufferer  of  every  class  and 
clime;  let  no  unbrotherly  prejudice  ever  close  our  homes  or  hearts  against 
any  child  of  thine.  May  our  faith  in  Christ  be  no  empty  profession,  but 
lead  us  to  honor  him  in  the  persons  of  the  sick,  the  imprisoned,  the  unfor¬ 
tunate — his  brethren  and  ours.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  self-denial 
and  brotherly  service,  may  we  become  the  almoners  of  thy  bounty  and  sav¬ 
iors  of  souls.”  Amen. 


190 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  io 

CSttetfan  Soutg  oC  Social  gugtice 


$ee£e  Coe  tjje  Soap:  “  Seek  justice,  relieve  the  oppressed,  judge  the 
fatherless,  plead  for  the  widow.” — Isaiah  i.  17. 

Cot  tf)t  2Dap:  Exodus  3.  7—12. 

7  And  Jehovah  said,  I  have  surely  seen  the  affliction  of  my 
people  that  are  in  Egypt,  and  have  heard  their  cry  by  reason  of 
their  taskmasters;  for  I  know  their  sorrows;  8  and  I  am  come 
down  to  deliver  them  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and  to 
bring  them  up  out  of  that  land  unto  a  good  land  and  a  large,  unto 
a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey;  unto  the  place  of  the  Canaan- 
ite,  and  the  Hittite,  and  the  Amorite,  and  the  Perizzite,  and  the 
Hivite,  and  the  Jebusite.  9  And  now,  behold,  the  cry  of  the  chil¬ 
dren  of  Israel  is  come  unto  me:  moreover  I  have  seen  the  oppression 
wherewith  the  Egyptians  oppress  them.  10  Come  now  therefore, 
and  I  will  send  thee  unto  Pharaoh,  that  thou  mayest  bring  forth 
my  people  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt.  11  And  Moses 
said  unto  God,  Who  am  I,  that  I  should  go  unto  Pharaoh,  and 
that  I  should  bring  forth  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt? 
12  And  he  said,  Certainly  I  will  be  with  thee;  and  this  shall  be 
the  token  unto  thee,  that  I  have  sent  thee :  when  thou  hast  brought 
forth  the  people  out  of  Egypt,  ye  shall  serve  God  upon  this 
mountain. 

“Comfort  the  poor,  protect  and  shelter  the  weak,  and  with  all  thy  might  right 
that  which  is  wrong.  Then  shall  the  Lord  love  thee,  and  God  himself  shall  be  thy  great 
reward.” — Last  words  of  Alfred  the  Great. 

“This  very  earth,  now  outraged  by  wars  and  clouded  with  armaments,  might  be 
an  earth  of  peace  and  good  will.  These  cities  that  now  sprawl  like  rubbish  heaps, 
might  easily  be  human  homes,  light  and  bright  and  sound  and  lovable.  This  commerce 
might  be  a  network  of  intelligent  cooperation  instead  of  a  savage  strife  of  competitive 
interests.  Trade  might  be  open  and  honest  and  human-hearted.  Wealth  might  be 
tempered,  thoughtful,  widespread,  and  sacrificial.  The  nation  might  be  of  one  heart 
and  one  mind.  And  all  men  and  women  might  feel  themselves  free  in  a  free  land  which 
was  their  own.” — II.  Scott  Holland. 

COE  t l)E  “O  God  of  our  fathers,  we  desire  to  make  before 

thee  a  solemn  act  of  penitence  on  behalf  of  the  church.  We  her  children 
have  done  little  to  further  thy  kingdom  on  earth  by  the  establishment  of 
social  justice.'  We  humble  ourselves  before  thee  for  our  past  neglect,  and 
seek  for  thy  forgiveness.  We  confess  that  we  have  often  forgotten  that 
since  thou  art  our  Father  all  men  are  our  brethren,  and  that  we  are  stew¬ 
ards  and  not  owners  of  all  that  thou  hast  given  us.  Pardon  any  indifference 
and  apathy  toward  the  sufferings  of  those  who  labor.  Pardon  any  bitter¬ 
ness  toward  those  who  abound.  Forgive  us  for  having  allowed  injustice  and 
oppression  to  remain  too  often  unrebuked  and  unredressed.  These  and  all 
other  sins  we  confess  with  grief  and  shame.  Endue  thy  holy  Church  with 
power  to  break  every  yoke  and  to  let  the  oppressed  go  free.  May  the  love  of 
Christ  constrain  us,  and  may  thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Charles  Gore  (b.  1853). 

191 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  n 

flDut  to  t f>t  jBationg 


(Ot  tjt  “For  I  determined  not  to  know  anything  among 

you,  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified.’’ — I  Corinthians  2.  2. 

iltjOSUmfOttSeSDap:  Acts  16.  6-10. 

6  And  they  went  through  the  region  of  Phrygia  and  Galatia, 
having  been  forbidden  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  speak  the  word  in 
Asia;  7  and  when  they  were  come  over  against  Mysia,  they  assayed 
to  go  into  Bithynia;  and  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  suffered  them  not; 
8  and  passing  by  Mysia,  they  came  down  to  Troas.  9  And  a  vision 
appeared  to  Paul  in  the  night:  There  was  a  man  of  Macedonia 
standing,  beseeching  him,  and  saying,  Come  over  into  Macedonia, 
and  help  us.  10  And  when  he  had  seen  the  vision,  straightway  we 
sought  to  go  forth  into  Macedonia,  concluding  that  God  had  called 
us  to  preach  the  gospel  unto  them. 

“Behold  the  millions  in  their  tears 

Of  sorrow,  slavehood,  sin,  and  shame! 

Th  ey  grope  through  superstitious  fears; 

Unloved;  unknown  is  Jesus’  name. 

“Dull  worshipers  of  stone  and  trees, 

Blind  children  of  a  blinder  god, 

Weary  they  crawl  on  hands  and  knees, 

But  know  not  why  they  toil  and  plod. 

“O  Master  of  the  ransomed  life, 

Give  me  the  word  to  set  them  free; 

Let  thy  sweet  calm  replace  the  strife; 

Teach  them  the  joy  of  trust  in  thee. 

“No  cost  too  great  to  make  them  thine, 

These  hungry  crowds  that  seek  in  vain. 

O,  fill  thy  church  with  power  divine, 

The  clamoring  millions  to  reclaim.”  — Fred  Fisher. 

(Ot  tf)£  2Dag»  “O  thou  who  hast  made  all  nations  of  men  to  seek 
thee  and  to  find  thee:  bless ,  we  beseech  thee ,  thy  sons  and  daughters  who  have 
gone  forth  into  distant  lands ,  bearing  in  their  hands  thy  W ord  of  Life.  We 
rejoice  that,  touched  with  the  enthusiasm  of  Christ,  so  many  have  con¬ 
secrated  their  lives  to  proclaiming  the  message  of  thy  love  to  those  other 
sheep  of  thine  who  are  not  in  our  fold,  that  they  may  be  united  with  us  and 
that  there  may  be  one  flock  and  one  Shepherd.  Help  thy  ministering  servants 
to  recognize  the  fragments  of  truth  and  goodness  that  are  ever  found  when 
men  are  sincere  and  to  claim  these  glimpses  of  thyself  as  the  prophecies  of  a 
fuller  revelation.  When  discouraged  by  the  hardness  of  their  task,  and 
the  meager  fruit  of  all  their  labor,  give  them  faith  to  see  the  far-off  whiten¬ 
ing  harvest.  Inspire  them  with  thy  gracious  promise  that  though  the  sower 
may  go  forth  weeping,  bearing  precious  seed,  he  will  come  again  with  joy, 
bringing  his  sheaves  with  him.  Comfort  them  in  their  exile  and  loneliness 
with  a  sense  of  thy  companionship  and  with  the  prayers  and  sympathy  of 
their  brethren  at  home.  Through  them  let  thy  Word  have  free  course  and 
be  glorified,  and  so  let  thy  kingdom  come  and  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as 
in  heaven,  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — Samuel  AicComb  (b.  1864). 

}92 


BROTHERLINESS  JULY  12 

US c  CStotomg  of  JFree&om 


(Pettfe  tot  tge  2Dap:  “  Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen :  to  loose 
the  bonds  of  wickedness,  to  undo  the  bands  of  the  yoke,  and  to  let  the 
oppressed  go  free,  and  that  ye  break  every  yoke?’’ — Isaiah  58.  6. 

JLt$#on  for  tfie  &>ap:  Isaiah  1.  11,  15—18. 

11  What  unto  me  is  the  multitude  of  your  sacrifices?  saith 
Jehovah:  I  have  had  enough  of  the  burnt  offerings  of  rams,  and 
the  fat  of  fed  beasts;  and  I  delight  not  in  the  blood  of  bullocks, 
or  of  lambs,  or  of  he-goats.  15  And  when  ye  spread  forth  your 
hands,  I  will  hide  mine  eyes  from  you;  yea,  when  ye  make  many 
prayers,  I  will  not  hear:  your  hands  are  full  of  blood.  16  Wash 
you,  make  you  clean;  put  away  the  evil  of  your  doings  from 
before  mine  eyes;  cease  to  do  evil;  17  learn  to  do  well;  seek  justice, 
relieve  the  oppressed,  judge  the  fatherless,  plead  for  the  widow. 

18  Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  Jehovah:  though 
your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow;  though 
they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool. 


“We  knelt  before  kings;  we  bent  before  lords; 

For  theirs  were  the  crowns,  and  theirs  were  the  swords; 

But  the  times  of  the  bending  and  bowing  are  past, 

And  the  day  of  the  people  is  dawning  at  last! 

“The  strength  of  the  state  we’ll  lavish  on  more 
Than  making  of  wealth  and  making  of  war; 

We  are  learning  at  last,  though  the  lesson  comes  late, 

That  the  making  of  man  is  the  task  of  the  state. 

“Great  Day  of  Jehovah,  prophets  and  seers 
Have  sung  of  thy  coming  thousands  of  years; 

Thank  God  for  each  sign  that  the  dark  night  is  past, 

And  the  day  of  the  people  is  dawning  at  last!” 

—  William  Pearson  Merrill. 


y&l&ytl  tot  tf)t  “O  thou  great  Champion  of  the  outcast  and  the 

weak,  we  .  .  .  bless  thee  for  all  that  America  has  meant  to  the  alien  folks 
that  have  crossed  the  sea  in  the  past,  and  for  all  the  patient  strength  and  God¬ 
fearing  courage  with  which  they  have  enriched  our  nation.  We  rejoice  in  the 
millions  whose  life  has  expanded  in  the  wealth  and  liberty  of  our  country,  for 
we  too  are  the  children  of  immigrants,  who  came  with  anxious  hearts  and 
halting  feet  on  the  westward  path  of  hope.  .  .  .  In  a  nation  dedicated  to 
liberty  may  they  not  find  the  old  oppression  and  a  fiercer  greed.  Help  our 
whole  people  henceforth  to  keep  in  leash  the  cunning  that  would  devour  the 
simple.  May  they  feel  here  the  pure  air  of  freedom  and  face  the  morning 
radiance  of  a  joyous  hope.  For  all  the  oppressed  afar  off  who  sigh  for  liberty ; 
for  all  lovers  of  the  people  who  strive  to  break  their  shackles ;  for  all  who  dare 
to  believe  in  democracy  and  the  kingdom  of  God,  make  thou  our  great  com¬ 
monwealth  once  more  a  sure  beacon  light  of  hope  and  a  guide  on  the  path 
which  leads  to  the  perfect  union  of  law  and  liberty.”  Amen. — Walter 
Rauschenbusch  (1861—1918). 


193 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  13 

?lt)e  &me  tlTttump!)  of  Cfjtttf t'g  I&mgbom 


fOt  tt)£  jSDapt  “The  kingdom  of  the  world  is  become  the  kingdom 
of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ:  and  he  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever.” — 
Revelation  11.  15b. 

J2LejS»0On  for  t|)e  2Da^:  Isaiah  42.  1-4;  Matthew  28.  16-20. 

1  Behold,  my  servant,  whom  I  uphold;  my  chosen,  in  whom 
my  soul  delighteth:  I  have  put  my  Spirit  upon  him;  he  will  bring 
forth  justice  to  the  Gentiles.  2  He  will  not  cry,  nor  lift  up  his 
voice,  nor  cause  it  to  be  heard  in  the  street.  3  A  bruised  reed 
will  he  not  break,  and  a  dimly  burning  wick  will  he  not  quench: 
he  will  bring  forth  justice  in  truth.  4  He  will  not  fail  nor  be 
discouraged,  till  he  have  set  justice  in  the  earth;  and  the  isles 
shall  wait  for  his  law. 

28.  16  But  the  eleven  disciples  went  into  Galilee,  unto  the  moun¬ 
tain  where  Jesus  had  appointed  them.  17  And  when  they  saw 
him,  they  worshiped  him:  but  some  doubted.  18  And  Jesus  came 
to  them  and  spake  unto  them,  saying,  All  authority  hath  been 
given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  19  Go  ye  therefore,  and 
make  disciples  of  all  the  nations,  baptizing  them  into  the  name 
of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit:  20  teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  commanded  you:  and  lo, 
I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 

“The  future  is  lighted  for  us  with  the  radiant  colors  of  hope.  Strife  and  sorrow 
shall  disappear.  Peace  and  love  shall  reign  supreme.  The  dream  of  poets,  the  lesson 
of  priest  and  prophet,  the  inspiration  of  the  great  musician,  is  confirmed  in  the  light  of 
modern  knowledge;  and,  as  we  gird  ourselves  for  the  work  of  life,  we  may  look  forward 
to  the  time  when  in  the  truest  sense  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  shall  become  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  and  he  shall  reign  forever  and  ever,  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords.” — John 
Fiske. 

prayer  for  tfie  2Day:  “  Eternal  God,  who  art  constantly  adored  by  thrones 
and  powers,  by  seraphim  and  cherubim,  we  confess  that  thou  art  most  worthy 
to  be  praised,  but  we  of  all  others  are  the  most  unworthy  to  be  employed 
in  showing  forth  thy  praise.  How  can  we  praise  thee,  the  pure  and  holy 
Majesty  of  Heaven?  Yet  how  can  these  bodies  which  thou  hast  wonder¬ 
fully  formed,  and  these  souls  which  thou  hast  inspired,  which  owe  entirely 
to  thine  unmerited  favor  all  that  they  are,  all  that  they  possess,  and  all 
that  they  hope  for,  forbear  praising  thee,  their  wise  and  bountiful  Creator 
and  Father?  Let  our  souls,  therefore,  and  all  that  is  within  us,  bless  thy 
holy  Name;  yea,  let  us  say,  O  Lord,  who  is  like  thee,  who  is  like  unto  thee? 
Let  our  most  gracious  King  and  Redeemer  dwell  and  reign  within  us;  may 
he  take  full  possession  of  us  by  his  Spirit,  and  govern  all  our  actions.  May 
he  extend  his  peaceable  and  saving  kingdom  throughout  the  whole  habitable 
world,  from  the  rising  of  the  sun  till  the  going  down  thereof.  Let  the  na¬ 
tions  acknowledge  their  King,  and  the  isles  be  glad  in  him.  .  .  .  Bless  this 
nation.  May  it  be  continually  watered  with  the  dew  of  thy  Spirit,  and 
plentifully  produce  fruit  acceptable  in  thy  sight;  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.”  Amen. — Archbishop  Leighton  (1611—1684). 

!94 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  14 

W&t  jReto  Jiiit  m  Cfjntft 


(Ot  “He  that  hath  the  Son  hath  the  life;  he  that  hath 

not  the  Son  of  God  hath  not  the  life.” — 1  John  5.  12. 

3l£!2i£0n£Dtt&e2Da£;  Ephesians  2.  1-7. 

1  And  you  did  he  make  alive,  when  ye  were  dead  through  your 
trespasses  and  sins,  2  wherein  ye  once  walked  according  to  the 
course  of  this  world,  according  to  the  prince  of  the  powers  of  the 
air,  of  the  spirit  that  now  worketh  in  the  sons  of  disobedience; 
3  among  whom  we  also  all  once  lived  in  the  lusts  of  our  flesh, 
doing  the  desires  of  the  flesh  and  of  the  mind,  and  were  by  nature 
children  of  wrath,  even  as  the  rest: — 4  but  God,  being  rich  in  mercy, 
for  his  great  love  wherewith  he  loved  us,  5  even  when  we  were 
dead  through  our  trespasses,  made  us  alive  together  with  Christ 
(by  grace  have  ye  been  saved),  6  and  raised  us  up  with  him,  and 
made  us  to  sit  with  him  in  the  heavenly  places,  in  Christ  Jesus: 
7  that  in  the  ages  to  come  he  might  show  the  exceeding  riches  of 
his  grace  in  kindness  toward  us  in  Christ  Jesus. 


“Five  years  ago  I  came  to  believe  in  Christ’s  teaching,  and  my  life  suddenly  became 
changed:  I  ceased  desiring  what  I  had  wished  before,  and  began  to  desire  what  I  had 
not  wished  before.  What  formerly  had  seemed  good  to  me  appeared  bad,  and  what 
had  seemed  bad  appeared  good.  .  .  .  The  direction  of  my  life,  my  desires  became 
different:  what  was  good  and  bad  changed  places.” — Tolstoy. 


“We  must  stir  up  the  gift  within  us.  Within  us  we  have  the  Spirit  of  power,  the 
Spirit  of  Jesus,  the  life  of  Jesus.  It  remains  to  us  to  appeal  to  it;  in  constant  acts  of 
faith  to  draw  upon  it  and  to  use  it.  Thus  it  will  become  to  each  of  us  as  much  a  truth 
of  experience  as  it  was  to  Saint  Paul,  and  no  vague  language  of  metaphor,  that  ‘it  is  no 
longer  merely  I  that  live,  but  Christ  that  liveth  in  me.’  ” — Charles  Gore. 


l&Z&IpZt  (Ot  tf)t  “O  Lord  God  Almighty,  whose  most  blessed  Son  did 

burst  the  bands  of  death  and  rise  again  for  us:  grant  for  his  sake  that  we 
may  pass  through  the  grave  and  gate  of  death  to  our  joyful  resurrection. 
And,  that  we  may  do  so,  make  us  while  here  on  earth  to  rise  from  the  death 
of  sin  unto  the  life  of  righteousness  that,  being  risen  with  Christ,  we  may 
seek  those  things  which  are  above  where  Christ  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of 
God.  May  we  set  our  affections  on  things  above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth, 
and  may  our  life  be  so  hid  with  Christ  in  God  now,  that  when  he,  who 
is  our  life,  shall  appear,  we  may  also  appear  with  him  in  glory;  through  the 
same  our  only  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — The  Book  of  Com¬ 
mon  Prayer. 


195 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  15 

<Wb t  Hite  HW  3*  tl )t  JiiQfit  ot  Sl?m 


(?0t£e  (0£  tf)0  “Again  therefore  Jesus  spake  unto  them,  saying,  I 

am  the  light  of  the  world:  he  that  followeth  me  shall  not  walk  in  the 
darkness,  but  shall  have  the  light  of  life.” — John  8.  12. 

Heston  for  tfjc  2Dap:  John  I.  1—9. 

1  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with 
God,  and  the  Word  was  God.  2  The  same  was  in  the  beginning 
with  God.  3  All  things  were  made  through  him;  and  without  him 
was  not  anything  made  that  hath  been  made.  4  In  him  was  life; 
and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men.  5  And  the  light  shineth  in  the 
darkness;  and  the  darkness  apprehended  it  not.  6  There  came  a 
man,  sent  from  God,  whose  name  was  John.  7  The  same  came  for 
witness,  that  he  might  bear  witness  of  the  light,  that  all  might  be¬ 
lieve  through  him.  8  He  was  not  the  light,  but  came  that  he  might 
bear  witness  of  the  light.  9  There  was  the  true  light,  even  the 
light  which  lighteth  every  man,  coming  into  the  world. 


“Christ,  whose  glory  fills  the  skies, 

Christ  the  true,  the  only  Light, 

Sun  of  Righteousness,  arise, 

Triumph  o’er  the  shades  of  night; 

Dayspring  from  on  high,  be  near; 

Daystar,  in  my  heart  appear. 

“Dark  and  cheerless  is  the  morn 
Unaccompanied  by  thee, 

Joyless  is  the  day’s  return 

Till  thy  mercy’s  beams  I  see. 

Till  they  inward  light  impart, 

Glad  my  eyes,  and  warm  my  heart.” 

— Charles  Wesley. 

“It  is  of  the  evidence  of  Christianity  that,  day  by  day,  hour  by  hour,  the  Christian 
should  live  in  conscious,  felt,  sustained  relationship  to  the  ever-living  Author  of  his  creed 
and  of  his  life.  Christianity  is  nonexistent  apart  from  Christ;  it  centers  in  Christ;  it 
radiates  now,  as  at  the  first,  from  Christ.  It  is  not  a  mere  doctrine  bequeathed  by  him 
to  a  world  with  which  he  has  ceased  to  have  dealings;  it  perishes  outright  when  men 
attempt  to  abstract  it  from  the  Living  Person  of  its  founder.  He  is  felt  by  his  people 
to  be  their  living  Lord,  really  present  with  them,  now  and  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.” — H.  P.  Liddon. 

(0t  tjt  SDtlJU  “O  Thou,  who  coverest  thyself  with  light  as  with 
a  garment,  even  the  true  light  which  lighteth  every  man  coming  into  the 
world,  shine  thou  in  us,  putting  to  flight  all  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  guilt 
of  sin  and  selfishness.  Shine  also  through  us  to  any  that  live  in  shadow; 
and  so  fill  us  with  thy  radiant  Spirit,  that  we  may  be  a  lamp  unto  a 
neighbor’s  feet  and  a  light  unto  his  path.  And  when  this  day  is  done  may 
every  face  we  have  met  be  the  brighter  for  our  meeting,  and  every  heart 
braver  with  new  joy  and  cheer  and  grace  and  strength.  For  in  thee,  O  Lord, 
is  life,  and  thy  life  is  the  light  of  men.”  Amen. — Theodore  Parker  (1810- 
1860). 


196 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  16 

Ci50ti'£»  protecting  Care 


Wn&t  for  tfje  SDap; 


“But  let  all  those  that  take  refuge  in  thee  rejoice, 
Let  them  ever  shout  for  joy,  because  thou  defendest 
them.” 

— Psalm  5.  11. 


JLt$$on  for  tfjeSDap:  1  Peter  5.  6-1 1. 


6  Humble  yourselves  therefore  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God, 
that  he  may  exalt  you  in  due  time;  7  casting  all  your  anxiety  upon 
him,  because  he  careth  for  you.  8  Be  sober,  be  watchful:  your 
adversary  the  devil,  as  a  roaring  lion,  walketh  about,  seeking  whom 
he  may  devour:  9  whom  withstand  steadfast  in  your  faith,  know¬ 
ing  that  the  same  sufferings  are  accomplished  in  your  brethren 
who  are  in  the  world.  10  And  the  God  of  all  grace,  who  called 
you  unto  his  eternal  glory  in  Christ,  after  that  ye  have  suffered 
a  litle  while,  shall  himself  perfect,  establish,  strengthen  you.  11 
To  him  be  the  dominion  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 


“Whate’er  God  does  is  well! 

In  patience  let  us  wait; 

He  doth  himself  our  burdens  bear, 

He  doth  for  us  take  care, 

And  he,  our  God,  knows  all  our  weary  days. 

Come,  give  him  praise.”  — B.  Schmolck. 

“Abide  with  me  from  morn  till  eve, 

For  without  thee  I  cannot  live; 

Abide  with  me  when  night  is  nigh, 

For  without  thee  I  dare  not  die. 

Watch  by  the  sick,  enrich  the  poor 
With  blessings  from  thy  boundless  store; 

Be  every  mourner’s  sleep  to-night, 

Like  infant’s  slumbers,  pure  and  light. 

Come  near  and  bless  us  when  we  wake, 

Ere  through  the  world  our  way  we  take, 

Till  in  the  ocean  of  thy  love 

We  lose  ourselves  in  heaven  above.”  — Henry  F.  Lyte. 

Ptfl^Ct  fOC  tfiC  SDtlgt  “Almighty  and  most  merciful  Father,  thou  art  a 
God  that  hearest  prayer;  and  we  are  encouraged  to  draw  nigh  unto  thy 
throne  of  grace,  most  humbly  beseeching  thee  to  look  upon  us  according  to 
thy  tender  mercy  in  Jesus  Christ.  With  many  thanks  for  thy  past  mercies 
we  now  cast  ourselves  upon  thy  protecting  care,  trusting  in  that  wisdom 
which  cannot  err  and  in  that  love  which  cannot  fail.  Do  thou  appoint  our 
lot  as  seemeth  good  to  thee.  Father,  not  our  will  but  thine  be  done!  Pre¬ 
serve  us  from  temptation ;  preserve  us  from  sin ;  preserve  us  from  our  own 
evil  hearts.  Send  thy  good  Spirit  to  direct  and  guide  us  in  the  ways  and 
works  of  godliness;  purify  our  affections;  enliven  our  devotion;  teach  us 
how  to  pray  and  how  to  hear  and  read  and  profit  by  thy  Holy  Word.  What¬ 
soever  we  do  in  word  or  deed  let  us  do  all  in  Jesus’  name,  giving  thanks  to 
God  and  the  Father  through  him.  And  let  the  words  of  our  mouths,  and 
the  meditations  of  our  hearts  be  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord,  our  strength 
and  our  Redeemer.”  Amen. — Hannah  More  (1745-1833). 

197 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  17 

Cate  m  Mature 


fOt  tf)t  2Da^t  “Behold  the  birds  of  the  heaven,  that  they  sow  not, 
neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns;  and  your  heavenly  Father 
feedeth  them.” — Matthew  6.  26. 

2le££onf0tt&e2Da£:  Psalm  8.  1,  3-9. 

1  O  Jehovah,  our  Lord, 

How  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the  earth, 

Who  hast  set  thy  glory  upon  the  heavens ! 

3  When  I  consider  thy  heavens,  the  work  of  thy  fingers, 

The  moon  and  the  stars,  which  thou  hast  ordained; 

4  What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him? 

And  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  visitest  him? 

5  For  thou  hast  made  him  but  little  lower  than  God, 

And  crownest  him  with  glory  and  honor. 

6  Thou  makest  him  to  have  dominion  over  the  works  of  thy 

hands ; 

Thou  hast  put  all  things  under  his  feet: 

7  All  sheep  and  oxen, 

Yea,  and  the  beasts  of  the  field, 

8  The  birds  of  the  heavens,  and  the  fish  of  the  sea, 
Whatsoever  passeth  through  the  paths  of  the  seas. 

9  O  Jehovah,  our  Lord, 

How  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the  earth! 

“It  was  a  beautiful  sight  to  see  the  herons  come  home,  rising  into  the  golden  sun¬ 
light  above  the  hills  I  could  not  tell  from  whence,  and  sailing  on  the  glorious  arches  of 
their  wings,  on  and  on — always  alone,  and  each  as  he  came  down  with  outstretched 
neck  and  pendant  legs  ready  to  settle,  taking  one  last  sweep  down,  then  up,  on  to  the 
summit  of  the  tall  Scotch  fir,  to  take  a  survey  of  the  realm,  and  as  another  approached, 
plunging  into  the  thick  heads  of  lower  trees  with  a  loud  good-night  to  his  neighbors, 
and  to  all  the  fair  land  and  water  round  about  him,  and  a  Deo  Gratias  for  all  his  day’s 
happiness,  pleasant  unto  the  ear  of  his  dear  God,  if  not  consciously  addressed  to  him. 
My  heavenly  Father  careth  for  them,  I  am  of  more  value  than  many  herons.” — Edward 
White  Benson. 

y&Z&ytZ  (0t  t f)t  “Father  in  heaven,  we  thank  thee  for  all  this  world 

of  thy  providence,  so  fertile  in  wonders,  so  rich  in  beauty.  We  thank  thee 
that  thou  carest  for  the  ground,  that  nightly  thou  waterest  it  with  dews 
from  heaven,  and  in  thine  own  season  sendest  the  river  of  waters  in  plen¬ 
teous  showers  to  moisten  field  and  garden  and  hill  and  town.  We  thank  thee 
for  the  beauty  which  thou  bringest  forth  in  every  stream  of  water,  on  every 
hillside,  and  that  wherewith  thou  fringest  the  paths  of  men  as  they  pass  to 
their  daily  work.  But  we  thank  thee  still  more  that  in  a  tenderer  and  love¬ 
lier  and  holier  way  thou  revealest  thy  loving-kindness  and  thy  tenderness  and 
thy  holiness  to  thy  children.  Lord,  what  shall  we  render  to  thee  for  the 
least  of  the  mercies  which  thou  hast  given  us?  We  pray  thee  that  we  may 
live  as  blameless  as  the  flowers  of  the  field ;  that  our  lives  within  may  be  as 
fragrant,  and  without  as  fair,  and  that  what  is  promise  in  our  spring,  what 
is  blossom  in  our  summer,  may  in  the  harvest  of  heaven  bear  fruit  of  ever¬ 
lasting  life.”  Amen. — Theodore  Parker  (1810— 1860). 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  18 

£Dur  SDepentience  dflpon  C3od 

(Ot  tl)t  “For  in  him  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being.” 

— Acts  17.  28. 

3tejs»js»on  tor  tge  2Da^:  Job  12.  9,  10,  13-17. 

9  Who  knoweth  not  in  all  these, 

That  the  hand  of  Jehovah  hath  wrought  this, 

10  In  whose  hand  is  the  soul  of  every  living  thing, 

And  the  breath  of  all  mankind? 

13  With  God  is  wisdom  and  might; 

He  hath  counsel  and  understanding. 

14  Behold,  he  breaketh  down,  and  it  cannot  be  built  again; 

He  shutteth  up  a  man,  and  there  can  be  no  opening. 

15  Behold,  he  withholdeth  the  waters,  and  they  dry  up; 
Again,  he  sendeth  them  out,  and  they  overturn  the  earth. 

16  With  him  is  strength  and  wisdom; 

The  deceived  and  the  deceiver  are  his. 

17  He  leadeth  counselors  away  stripped, 

And  judges  maketh  he  fools. 


At  one  period  during  the  Civil  War  Richard  Oglesby,  governor  of  Illinois,  lost 
all  hope  of  the  success  of  the  Union  cause  and  wrote  President  Lincoln  that  he  thought 
all  was  lost.  Promptly  he  received  a  telegram  in  reply:  “Dear  Dick.  Read  Exodus 
14.  14.  Fear  ye  not;  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.  Abraham  Lincoln.” 


“I  need  thy  presence  every  passing  hour; 

What  but  thy  grace  can  foil  the  tempter’s  power? 

Who,  like  thyself,  my  guide  and  stay  can  be? 

Through  cloud  and  sunshine,  Lord,  abide  with  me!” 

— Henry  F.  Lyte. 


y&ZdlPtZ  fOt  tjjf  “O  God  in  our  feebleness  and  our  darkness,  depend¬ 

ent  on  thee  for  all  things ,  we  lift  up  our  eyes  unto  thee.  As  a  little  child  to 
the  father  and  mother  who  guide  him  by  their  hands,  so  do  our  eyes  look 
up  to  thy  countenance,  O  thou  who  art  our  Father  and  our  Mother  too,  and 
bless  thee  for  all  thy  gifts.  We  look  to  the  infinity  of  thy  perfection  with 
awe-touched  heart,  and  we  adore  the  sublimity  which  we  cannot  comprehend. 
We  bow  down  before  thee,  and  would  renew  our  sense  of  gratitude  and 
quicken  still  more  our  certainty  of  trust,  till  we  feel  thee  a  presence  close  to 
our  heart;  and  are  so  strong  in  the  heavenly  confidence  that  nothing  earthly 
can  disturb  us  or  make  us  fear.”  Amen. — Theodore  Parker  (1810-1860). 


199 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


JULY  19 

Confluence  in  (Bob 


C?et£e  tot  tf)C  SDOpt  “This  is  the  confidence  that  we  have  in  him,  that, 
if  we  ask  anything  according  to  his  will,  he  heareth  us.” — 1  John  5.  14 
(King  J  ames  version). 

2te£s>on  tot  tfje  2Dap:  i  John  3.  21-24. 

21  Beloved,  if  our  heart  condemn  us  not,  we  have  boldness 
toward  God;  22  and  whatsoever  we  ask  we  receive  of  him,  because 
we  keep  his  commandments  and  do  the  things  that  are  pleasing 
in  his  sight.  23  And  this  is  his  commandment,  that  we  should  be¬ 
lieve  in  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  love  one  another, 
even  as  he  gave  us  commandment.  24  And  he  that  keepeth  his 
commandments  abideth  in  him,  and  he  in  him.  And  hereby  we 
know  that  he  abideth  in  us,  by  the  Spirit  which  he  gave  us. 


‘‘God’s  plans,  like  lilies,  pure  and  white  unfold; 

We  must  not  tear  the  close-shut  leaves  apart. 

Time  will  reveal  the  calyxes  of  gold; 

And  if  through  patient  toil  we  reach  the  land 
Where  tired  feet  with  sandals  loosed  may  rest, 

Where  we  shall  clearly  know  and  understand, 

I  think  that  we  shall  say,  ‘God  knew  the  best.’  ” 

— Anonymous. 


“Thou  alone  knowest  what  is  good  for  me;  thou  alone  art  Lord  of  all;  do  therefore 
what  seemeth  to  thee  best.  Give  to  me  or  take  from  me;  conform  my  will  to  thine; 
and  grant  that  with  humble  and  perfect  submission  and  in  holy  confidence  I  may  be 
disposed  to  receive  the  orders  of  thy  eternal  providence,  and  may  equally  adore  every 
dispensation  which  shall  come  to  me  from  thy  hand.” — Pascal. 


PtftpeC  fot  tj)e  SDiiyt  “Almighty  God,  who  art  the  confidence  of  all  the 
ends  of  the  earth,  and  of  them  that  are  afar  off  upon  the  sea — our  Sun  and 
Shield,  our  refuge  and  defense,  the  strength  of  our  heart,  and  the  Rock  of 
Salvation — enable  us  to  put  our  trust  in  thee.  .  .  .  Pardon,  O  God, 

for  the  sake  of  thy  beloved  Son,  whatever  want  of  confidence  we  have  shown 
toward  thee;  and  lead  us  henceforth  by  the  teaching  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  to 
trust  in  thee  with  all  our  hearts.  Help  us  to  rely  on  the  goodness  of  thy 
providence.  Increase  our  faith  in  the  promises  of  thy  Word.  Dispose  us 
cheerfully  to  cast  upon  thee  all  our  cares,  humbly  to  commit  to  thy  keeping 
all  our  interests,  and  earnestly  to  seek  the  aid  of  thy  strength  and  the  guid¬ 
ance  of  thy  wisdom  in  all  our  undertakings.  .  .  .  And  cause  us  to  know 

him  whom  we  have  believed,  so  as  to  be  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep 
unto  the  great  day  that  which  we  have  committed  to  him.  For  his  name’s 
sake.”  Amen. — Family  Prayers ,  Church  of  Scotland 1870. 


1 


200 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  20 

CI5oti  €>ut  Jfortretfg 

(Ot  tljt  “Jehovah  is  my  rock,  and  my  fortress,  and  my  de¬ 

liverer.” — 2  Samuel  22.  2. 

il*!S»S»0n  (Dtt&eSDap:  Psalm  91.  1-6,  10,  II. 

1  He  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High 
Shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 

2  I  will  say  of  Jehovah,  He  is  my  refuge  and  my  fortress; 
My  God,  in  whom  I  trust. 

3  For  he  will  deliver  thee  from  the  snare  of  the  fowler, 

And  from  the  deadly  pestilence. 

4  He  will  cover  thee  with  his  pinions, 

And  under  his  wings  shalt  thou  take  refuge: 

His  truth  is  a  shield  and  a  buckler. 

5  Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  night, 

Nor  for  the  arrow  that  flieth  by  day; 

6  For  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness, 

Nor  for  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at  noonday. 

10  There  shall  no  evil  befall  thee, 

Neither  shall  any  plague  come  nigh  thy  tent. 

11  For  he  will  give  his  angels  charge  over  thee, 

To  keep  thee  in  all  thy  ways. 

“A  mighty  fortress  is  our  God, 

A  bulwark  never  failing; 

Our  Helper,  he,  amid  the  flood 
Of  mortal  ills  prevailing. 

For  still  our  ancient  foe 
Doth  seek  to  work  us  woe; 

His  craft  and  power  are  great, 

And,  armed  with  cruel  hate, 

On  earth  is  not  his  equal.”  — Martin  Luther. 

ptajft  tot  t Jt  &>ag:  O  Lord,  our  God,  thou  art  a  tower  of  strength  to 
all  those  who  put  their  trust  in  thee,  a  refuge  and  fortress  to  those  who  dwell 
in  the  secret  place.  Receive,  we  beseech  thee,  our  heartfelt  thanks  for  thy 
gracious  protection  and  for  all  the  daily  bounties  of  thy  providence.  Above 
all  we  thank  thee  for  thy  spiritual  care  and  love;  that  thou  hast  guarded  us 
from  evil  and  strengthened  us  to  walk  with  willing  steps  in  the  path  of  duty 
and  obedience.  O  be  thus  to  us  evermore  a  shield  and  buckler  against 
the  darts  of  the  enemy;  and  fulfill  unto  us  who  have  chosen  thee  as  our 
house  of  defense,  all  the  gracious  promises  which  of  old  were  made  unto 
thy  faithful  servants.  Forgive,  we  beseech  thee,  whatever  amiss  thou  seest  in 
us — whatever  sinful  pride  or  vanity  we  have  indulged,  whatever  hasty  words 
we  have  spoken,  whatever  unkind  acts  we  have  done,  whatever  kindness  we 
have  failed  to  do  toward  the  sick,  the  poor,  the  unfortunate,  or  any  others 
whom  thou  hast  brought  within  our  circle  of  possible  service.  Increase  in 
us,  we  beseech  thee,  all  Christian  graces;  may  we  forgive  as  we  hope  to  be 
forgiven;  may  we  love  others  even  as  Christ  loved  us;  in  all  things  may 
we  deny  ourselves  that  we  may  serve  thee  and  our  fellow  men.  For  Jesus’ 
sake.  Amen. 


201 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  21 

l&efuge  Jftont  trouble 


Wn&t  for  tfjt  $Dap: 
JLt^on  (at  tfjeSDap: 


“God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 

A  very  present  help  in  trouble.” 

— Psalm  46.  I. 


Isaiah  35.  3—10. 


3  Strengthen  ye  the  weak  hands,  and  confirm  the  feeble  knees. 
4  Say  to  them  that  are  of  a  fearful  heart,  Be  strong,  fear  not: 
behold,  your  God  will  come  with  vengeance,  with  the  recompense 
of  God :  he  will  come  and  save  you. 

5  Then  the  eyes  of  the  blind  shall  be  opened,  and  the  ears  of 
the  deaf  shall  be  unstopped.  6  Then  shall  the  lame  man  leap  as 
a  hart,  and  the  tongue  of  the  dumb  shall  sing;  for  in  the  wilder¬ 
ness  shall  waters  break  out,  and  streams  in  the  desert.  7  And  the 
glowing  sand  shall  become  a  pool,  and  thirsty  ground  springs  of 
water:  in  the  habitation  of  jackals,  where  they  lay,  shall  be  grass 
with  reeds  and  rushes.  8  And  a  highway  shall  be  there,  and  a  way, 
and  it  shall  be  called  The  way  of  holiness;  the  unclean  shall  not 
pass  over  it;  but  it  shall  be  for  the  redeemed :  the  wayfaring 
men,  yea  fools,  shall  not  err  therein.  9  No  lion  shall  be  there,  nor 
shall  any  ravenous  beast  go  up  thereon;  they  shall  not  be  found 
there;  but  the  redeemed  shall  walk  there:  10  and  the  ransomed 
of  Jehovah  shall  return,  and  come  with  singing  unto  Zion;  and 
everlasting  joy  shall  be  upon  their  heads:  they  shall  obtain  glad¬ 
ness  and  joy,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away. 


“Everlasting  arms  of  love 
Are  beneath,  around,  above; 

God  it  is  who  bears  us  on, 

His  the  arm  we  lean  upon. 

He,  our  ever-present  Guide, 

Faithful  is,  whate’er  betide; 

Gladly,  then,  we  journey  on, 

With  his  arm  to  lean  upon.” 

“I  have  been  driven  many  times  to  my  knees  by  the  overwhelming  conviction  that 
I  had  nowhere  else  to  go.  My  own  wisdom  and  that  of  all  about  me  seemed  insuffi¬ 
cient  for  that  day.” — Abraham  Lincoln. 

“0  Lord  God,  thou  art  our  refuge  and  our  hope;  on  thee  alone  we  rest,  for  we  find 
all  to  be  weak  and  insufficient  but  thee.  Many  friends  cannot  profit,  nor  strong  helpers 
assist,  nor  prudent  counselors  advise,  nor  the  books  of  the  learned  afford  comfort,  nor 
any  precious  substance  deliver,  nor  any  place  give  shelter,  unless  thou  thyself  dost 
assist,  strengthen,  console,  instruct,  and  guard  us.” — James  Alartineau  (1805-1900). 

y&Z&VtZ  (Ot  2Da#t  “Almighty  God,  the  refuge  of  all  that  are  distressed, 
grant  unto  us  that,  in  all  trouble  of  this  our  mortal  life  we  may  flee  to  the 
knowledge  of  thy  loving-kindness  and  tender  mercy;  that  so,  sheltering  our¬ 
selves  therein,  the  storms  of  life  may  pass  over  us,  and  not  shake  the  peace 
of  God  that  is  within  us.  Whatsoever  this  life  may  bring  us,  grant  that  it 
may  never  take  from  us  the  full  faith  that  thou  art  our  Father.  Grant  us 
thy  light,  that  we  may  have  life,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 


202 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  22 

a  l^optlul  anb  Courageouss  feipitit 

PttsSe  fat  t!>e  &>ag:  “  Be  strong,  and  let  your  heart  take  courage, 

All  ye  that  hope  in  Jehovah.” 

— Psalm  31.  24. 

fOt  Deuteronomy  31.  6-8. 

6  Be  strong  and  of  good  courage,  fear  not,  nor  be  affrighted 
at  them:  for  Jehovah  thy  God,  he  it  is  that  doth  go  with  thee;  he 
will  not  fail  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.  7  And  Moses  called  unto 
Joshua,  and  said  unto  him  in  the  sight  of  all  Israel,  Be  strong  and 
of  good  courage;  for  thou  shalt  go  with  this  people  into  the  land 
which  Jehovah  hath  sworn  unto  their  fathers  to  give  them;  and 
thou  shalt  cause  them  to  inherit  it.  8  And  Jehovah,  he  it  is  that 
doth  go  before  thee;  he  will  be  with  thee,  he  will  not  fail  thee, 
neither  forsake  thee;  fear  not,  neither  be  dismayed. 


“We  cannot  rightly  carry  out  any  true  or  noble  object  in  life  in  a  spirit  of  despond¬ 
ency.  ...  A  depressed  life — a  life  which  has  ceased  to  believe  in  its  own  sacredness, 
its  own  capabilities,  its  own  mission — a  life  which  contentedly  sinks  into  querulous  ego¬ 
tism  or  vegetating  aimlessness — has  become,  so  far  as  the  world  is  concerned,  a  maimed 
and  useless  life.  All  our  lives  are  in  some  sense  a  ‘might  have  been’;  the  very  best  of  us 
must  feel,  I  suppose,  in  sad  and  thoughtful  moments,  that  he  might  have  been  tran- 
scendently  nobler,  and  greater,  and  loftier  than  he  is;  but  while  life  lasts  every  ‘might 
have  been’  should  lead,  not  to  vain  regrets,  but  to  manly  resolutions;  it  should  be  but 
the  dark  background  to  a  ‘may  be’  and  ‘will  be  yet.’” — Frederick  W.  Farrar. 

^Z&jPtZ  (Ot  Our  heavenly  Father,  our  assurance  is  that  thou 

knowest  all  our  strength  and  weakness,  and  that  thou  wilt  be  our  helper  in 
all.  Thou  knowest  also  our  ignorance  and  folly;  the  ways  in  which  we 
delude  ourselves;  the  power  which  our  sinful  desires  give  to  temptation;  and 
how  blind  and  faltering  our  faith  is  in  the  midst  of  the  things  of  sense.  We 
cast  ourselves  upon  thy  mercy.  Help  us  that  we  may  trust  in  the  love  that 
never  fails,  that  we  may  be  strengthened  by  the  holy  principles  and  pur¬ 
poses  and  feelings  which  thy  word  inspires.  Thou  hast  a  work  for  us  to  do. 
May  we  hear  thy  voice  saying  unto  us,  “Be  strong  and  of  good  courage,  fear 
not  nor  be  affrighted.”  Help  us  that  every  day  we  may  listen  for  thy  voice. 
Be  with  us  in  all  the  experiences  of  life.  Help  us  to  find  great  lessons  in 
even  the  commonest  things.  May  our  hearts  and  tempers  bear  the  test  of 
little  things.  Let  no  eagerness  of  business  beguile  us  into  forgetfulness  of 
thee.  Let  no  household  cares  divert  our  calm  religious  faith.  Let  no 
fret  or  worry  or  provocation  iritate  or  make  us  impatient.  May  our  souls 
be  kept  in  perfect  peace,  stayed  upon  thee.  May  we  offer  unto  thee  as 
service  and  sacrifice  everything  we  do,  even  the  least  and  most  commonplace. 
And  do  thou  accept  our  service  and  our  praise  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.  Amen. 


203 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  *  JULY  23 

^Lf\t  of  t fjt  laiffjteousi 


fot  tf)t  2Dap;  “The  wicked  are  overthrown,  and  are  not; 

But  the  house  of  the  righteous  shall  stand.” 

— Proverbs  12.  7. 


ILtg&im  tor  tf)e2Dap:  Psalm  34.  16-22. 


16  The  face  of  Jehovah  is  against  them  that  do  evil, 

To  cut  off  the  remembrance  of  them  from  the  earth. 

17  The  righteous  cried,  and  Jehovah  heard, 

And  delivered  them  out  of  all  their  troubles. 

18  Jehovah  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of  a  broken  heart, 

And  saveth  such  as  are  of  a  contrite  spirit. 

19  Many  are  the  afflictions  of  the  righteous; 

But  Jehovah  delivereth  him  out  of  them  all. 

20  He  keepeth  all  his  bones: 

Not  one  of  them  is  broken. 

21  Evil  shall  slay  the  wicked ; 

And  they  that  hate  the  righteous  shall  be  condemned. 

22  Jehovah  redeemeth  the  soul  of  his  servants; 

And  none  of  them  that  take  refuge  in  him  shall  be  con¬ 
demned. 


“When  we  plunge  ourselves  into  a  difficulty  by  a  neglect  of  the  means  or  by  a 
misuse  of  the  faculties  which  God  has  bestowed  upon  us,  it  is  to  be  expected  that  he  w  ill 
leave  us  to  our  own  devices.  But  when  in  the  honest  discharge  of  our  duties  we  find  our¬ 
selves  in  circumstances  beyond  the  reach  of  human  aid,  we  then  may  look  confidently 
up  to  God  for  deliverance.  He  will  always  take  care  of  us  while  we  are  in  the  spot  where 
he  has  placed  us.  When  he  appoints  for  us  trials  he  also  appoints  for  us  the  means  of 
escape.  The  path  of  duty,  though  it  may  seem  arduous,  is  ever  the  path  of  safety.  We 
can  more  easily  maintain  ourselves  in  the  most  difficult  position,  God  being  our  helper, 
than  in  apparent  security  relying  on  our  own  strength.” — Francis  Wayland,. 


pra  yet  for  tfje  £d  ay:  “  O  Almighty  God,  who  in  thy  mercy  hast  not  only 
delivered  unto  us  a  rule  of  godly  living,  but  hast  revealed  thyself  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  as  our  Father,  with  intent  to  write  thy  law  in  our  hearts;  suffer 
us  not  by  our  ingratitude  or  sloth  to  cast  away  this  inestimable  blessing,  but 
may  we  offer  ourselves  unto  thee,  our  souls  and  bodies,  to  be  a  reasonable, 
true,  and  lively  sacrifice,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Take  from  us  all 
hardness  of  heart;  save  us  from  all  hypocrisy  and  feigned  service.  May  we 
give  up  ourselves  wholly  unto  thee,  and  seek  to  profit  more  and  more  by 
the  knowledge  of  thy  heavenly  doctrine,  till  at  the  end  we  attain  unto  the 
fullness  of  thy  light.  ...  So  guide  us  in  our  journey  that  we  stray  not, 
neither  depart  from  the  way;  but  keep  us  ever  looking  forward  to  the  prize 
of  our  high  calling,  until  we  shall  have  finished  our  course  with  joy.  May 
we  behold  by  faith  things  invisible;  and  may  our  dependence  be  upon  thee 
alone;  may  we  so  trust  to  thy  gracious  providence  as  ?iot  to  doubt  our  safety, 
since  life  and  salvation  are  thy  care.  So,  when  storms  or  troubles  assault  us, 
we  shall  still  remain  in  peace,  till  we  finally  enjoy  that  blessed  and  eternal 
rest  which  thou  hast  prepared  for  us  in  heaven,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.”  Amen. — John  Calvin  (1509-1564). 

204 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  24 

I&dp  ^bailable  Ubtougb  ptapet 


tot  tfit  SDap:  ‘  The  supplication  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much 
in  its  working.” — James  5.  16. 

JLt$$on  tor  tfjeSDap:  Matthew  7.  7— 11. 

7  Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find;  knock, 
and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you:  8  for  every  one  that  asketh  re- 
ceiveth;  and  he  that  seeketh  findeth;  and  to  him  that  knocketh 
it  shall  be  opened.  9  Or  what  man  is  there  of  you,  who,  if  his  son 
shall  ask  him  for  a  loaf,  will  give  him  a  stone;  10  or  if  he  shall  ask 
for  a  fish,  will  give  him  a  serpent?  11  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know 
how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how  much  more  shall 
your  Father  who  is  in  heaven  give  good  things  to  them  that  ask 
him? 


“Hopefulness  of  final  victory  is  ours,  if  we  only  remember  that  we  are  fighting 
God’s  battles.  Keep  thy  will  united  to  the  will  of  God,  and  final  defeat  is  impossible; 
for  he  is  invincible.” — George  Body. 

“Lord,  what  a  change  within  us  one  short  hour 
Spent  in  thy  presence  will  avail  to  make! 

What  heavy  burdens  from  our  bosoms  take! 

What  parched  ground  refresh,  as  with  a  shower! 

We  kneel,  and  all  about  us  seems  to  lower, 

We  rise,  and  all  the  distance  and  the  near 
Stands  forth  in  sunny  outline,  brave  and  clear. 

We  kneel,  how  weak!  We  rise,  how  full  of  power! 

Why,  therefore,  do  we  do  ourselves  this  wrong, 

Or  others,  that  we  are  not  always  strong? 

That  we  are  ever  overborne  with  care, 

That  we  should  ever  weak  or  helpless  be, 

Anxious  or  troubled,  when  with  us  is  prayer, 

And  joy,  and  strength  and  courage  are  with  thee?” 

— Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 


prater  for  tf\t  SDap:  “  Most  holy  and  merciful  God,  the  Strength  of  the 
weak,  the  Rest  of  the  weary,  the  Comfort  of  the  sorrowful,  the  Saviour  of 
the  sinful,  the  Refuge  of  thy  children  in  every  time  of  need,  hear  us  while 
we  pray  for  thy  help  in  all  the  circumstances  and  experiences  of  our  life. 
When  our  hearts  are  growing  cold,  and  we  are  losing  the  vision  of  thy  face, 
and  living  as  though  life  had  no  spiritual  reality,  help  us,  O  God.  When 
evil  memories  of  the  past  trouble  us,  and  we  mourn  over  early  dreams  and 
hopes  unrealized,  our  light  within  us  turned  to  darkness,  and  strength  to 
weakness;  when  we  are  tempted  to  mean  and  wicked  ways,  and  sin  puts  on 
the  allurements  which  make  it  less  sinful  in  our  sight ;  when  we  are  called 
to  difficult  duty,  to  work  in  loneliness,  and  to  bear  burdens  that  are  hard 
to  be  borne;  when  we  are  weary  of  our  work  and  think  it  fruitless,  and  duty 
is  painful  because  it  seems  unprofitable;  when  the  unknown  future  troubles 
us,  and  amid  our  cares  and  anxieties  we  forget  the  eternal  love  and  care,  do 
thou  help  us,  O  God,  and  aid  us,  our  Father,  whatever  our  circumstance  or 
need,  ever  to  remember  that  there  is  for  as  help  available  through  prayer , 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.”  Amen. 

205 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  25 

^trengtf)  Jftont  d5ots  ^tottgD  Pta^t 


fOt  tf)C  SDa^t  “.  .  .  If  any  man  be  a  worshiper  of  God,  and 

do  his  will,  him  he  heareth.” — John  9.  31. 

Eetfsfonfot  tf)c  2Dap:  James  5-  13—18. 

13  Is  any  among  you  suffering?  let  him  pray.  Is  any  cheerful? 
let  him  sing  praise.  14  Is  any  among  you  sick?  let  him  call  for 
the  elders  of  the  church;  and  let  them  pray  over  him,  anointing 
him  with  oil -in  the  name  of  the  Lord:  15  and  the  prayer  of  faith 
shall  save  him  that  is  sick,  and  the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up;  and 
if  he  have  committed  sins,  it  shall  be  forgiven  him.  16  Confess 
therefore  your  sins  one  to  another,  and  pray  one  for  another,  that 
ye  may  be  healed.  The  supplication  of  a  righteous  man  availeth 
much  in  its  working.  17  Elijah  was  a  man  of  like  passions  with 
us,  and  he  prayed  fervently  that  it  might  not  rain;  and  it  rained 
not  on  the  earth  for  three  years  and  six  months.  18  And  he  prayed 
again;  and  the  heaven  gave  rain,  and  the  earth  brought  forth  her 
.  fruit. 


“As  torrents  in  summer 
Half  dried  in  their  channels, 
Suddenly  rise,  though  the 
Sky  is  still  cloudless, 

For  rain  has  been  falling 
Far  off  at  their  fountains; 

So  hearts  that  are  fainting 
Grow  full  to  o’erflowing, 

And  they  that  behold  it 
Marvel,  and  know  not 
That  God  at  their  fountains 
Far  off  has  been  raining.” 


“Of  far  greater  service  than  any  array  of  learning  or  gifts  of  eloquence,  more  to  be 
desired  than  gold  and  fine  raiment,  more  to  he  sought  than  a  great  name,  or  apparent 
opportunities  for  large  usefulness,  of  deeper  significance  than  high  intellectual  attain¬ 
ment,  or  power  of  popular  influence,  is  this  gilt — may  God  give  it  to  each  of  us! — the 
secret  and  sweetness  of  unceasing,  prevailing,  triumphant  prayer  for  the  kingdom  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.” — Robert  E.  Speer. 


Ptapet  for  tfj t  $Dap:  “  O  Lord  God  Almighty,  who  givest  power  to  the 
faint  and  increaseth  strength  to  them  that  have  no  might:  without  thee  we 
can  do  nothing,  but  by  thy  gracious  assistance  we  are  enabled  for  the  per¬ 
formance  of  every  duty  laid  upon  us.  Lord  of  power  and  love,  we  come 
trusting  in  thine  almighty  strength,  and  thine  infinite  goodness,  to  ask  of 
thee  what  is  wanting  in  ourselves,  even  that  grace  which  shall  help  us  such 
to  be,  and  such  to  do,  as  thou  wouldst  have  us.  O  our  God,  let  thy  grace 
be  sufficient  for  us,  and  ever  present  with  us,  that  we  may  do  all  things  as 
we  ought.  We  will  trust  in  thee,  in  whom  is  everlasting  strength.  Be  thou 
our  helper,  to  carry  us  on  beyond  our  own  strength,  and  to  make  all  that 
we  think  and  speak  and  do  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ.” 
Amen. — Benjamin  J enks  (1646). 


206 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  26 

Co&’sJ  KiffllteDUiS  MltU 

fOt  tf)t  SDtlg:  “Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done,  as  in 
heaven,  so  on  earth.” — Matthew  6.  io. 

3Lt&&0n  tot  tj)f  2Dap:  Romans  12.  i,  2;  16.  25-27. 

1  I  beseech  you  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God, 
to  present  your  bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God, 
which  is  your  spiritual  service.  2  And  be  not  fashioned  accord¬ 
ing  to  this  world:  but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your 
mind,  that  ye  may  prove  what  is  the  good  and  acceptable  and  per¬ 
fect  will  of  God. 

16.  25  Now  to  him  that  is  able  to  establish  you  according  to  my 
gospel  and  the  preaching  of  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  the  reve¬ 
lation  of  the  mystery  which  hath  been  kept  in  silence  through 
times  eternal,  26  but  now  is  manifested,  and  by  the  scriptures  of 
the  prophets,  according  to  the  commandment  of  the  eternal  God, 
is  made  known  unto  all  the  nations  unto  obedience  of  faith:  27  to 
the  only  wise  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  the  glory 
forever.  Amen. 


“God  is  too  wise  not  to  know  all  about  us,  and  what  is  really  best  for  us  to  be, 
and  to  have.  And  he  is  too  good,  not  to  desire  our  highest  good;  and  too  powerful, 
desiring,  not  to  effect  it.” — Henry  Parry  Liddon. 

“Not  in  dumb  resignation  we  lift  our  hands  on  high; 

Not  like  the  nerveless  fatalist,  content  to  do  and  die. 

Our  faith  springs,  like  the  eagle’s,  who  soars  to  meet  the  sun, 

And  cries  exulting  unto  thee,  ‘Oh,  Lord,  thy  will  be  done.’ 

“Thy  will!  It  bids  the  weak  be  strong;  it  bids  the  strong  be  just; 

No  lips  to  fawn,  no  hand  to  beg,  no  brow  to  seek  the  dust. 

Wherever  man  oppresses  men  beneath  the  liberal  sun, 

0  Lord,  be  there,  thine  arm  made  bare,  thy  righteous  will  be  done.” 

— John  Hay. 


fOC  t! )t  “Almighty  God,  of  whose  grace  alone  it  is  that  thy 

people  are  able  to  do  any  good  thing;  help  us  in  all  our  actions  to  maintain 
a  strict  regard  to  thy  revealed  will,  and  carefully  to  shun  every  false  and 
wicked  way.  Teach  us  to  renounce  the  hidden  things  of  dishonesty;  to  have 
no  fellowship  with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness;  and  to  abstain  from 
all  appearance  of  evil.  Make  us  watchful  against  temptation;  provident  of 
our  time;  circumspect  in  our  walk;  diligent,  just,  and  prudent  in  our  busi¬ 
ness;  temperate  in  our  enjoyments,  and  patient  in  our  trials.  And  whether 
we  eat  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  we  do,  enable  us  to  do  all  to  thy  glory.  .  .  . 
And  now,  O  our  God,  we  commit  ourselves  to  thee.  Show  us  thy  ways; 
teach  us  thy  paths;  lead  us  in  thy  truth,  and  teach  us;  for  thou  art  the  God 
of  our  salvation;  on  thee  would  we  wait  all  the  day.  Graciously  hear  us, 
and  grant  an  answer  of  peace,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
Family  Prayers ,  Church  of  Scotland. 


207 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  27 

Hflt  25ible  a£  tf\t  Mlotb  of  d5oti 


$££#£  fOt  tjt  “Ye  accepted  it  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but,  as  it 

is  in  truth,  the  word  of  God.” — 1  T hessalonians  2.  13. 

2Ll$£>0n  for  tj)£  2Dap:  2  Timothy  3.  14-17;  2  Peter  I.  19-21. 

14  But  abide  thou  in  the  things  which  thou  hast  learned  and 
hast  been  assured  of,  knowing  of  whom  thou  hast  learned  them; 
15  and  that  from  a  babe  thou  hast  known  the  sacred  writings  which 
are  able  to  make  thee  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus.  16  Every  scripture  inspired  of  God  is  also  profit¬ 
able  for  teaching,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  which 
is  in  righteousness:  17  that  the  man  of  God  may  be  complete,  fur- 
nished-'completely  unto  every  good  work. 

1.  19  And  we  have  the  word  of  prophecy  made  more  sure;  where- 
unto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take  heed,  as  unto  a  lamp  shining  in  a 
dark  place,  until  the  day  dawn,  and  the  day-star  arise  in  your  hearts: 
20  knowing  this  first,  that  no  prophecy  of  scripture  is  of  private 
interpretation.  21  For  no  prophecy  ever  came  by  the  will  of  man: 
but  men  spake  from  God,  being  moved  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 


“This  holy  Book,  on  every  line 
Marked  with  the  seal  ol  high  Divinity, 

On  every  leaf  bedewed  with  drops  of  love 
Divine,  and  with  the  eternal  heraldry 
And  signature  ot  God  Almighty  stamped 
From  first  to  last.” 

— Robert  Pollok. 


“All  that  I  have  written,  every  greatness  that  there  has  been  in  any  thought  of  mine, 
whatever  has  been  done  in  my  life,  has  been  simply  due  to  the  fact  that  when  I  was  a 
child,  my  mother  daily  read  with  me  a  part  of  the  Bible  and  daily  made  me  learn  a  part 
of  it  by  heart.” — John  Ruskin. 


fOt  tf)t  SDtip;  “O  gracious  God  and  most  merciful  Father,  who 
has  vouchsafed  us  the  rich  and  precious  jewel  of  thy  holy  Word,  assist  us 
with  thy  Spirit,  that  it  may  be  written  in  our  hearts  to  our  everlasting  com¬ 
fort,  to  reform  us,  to  renew  us  according  to  thine  own  image,  to  build  us  up, 
and  edify  us  into  the  perfect  building  of  thy  Christ,  sanctifying  and  increas¬ 
ing  in  us  all  heavenly  virtues.  Grant  this,  O  heavenly  Father,  for  Jesus 
Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. 


208 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  28 

SDitune  ^Direction  of  flDttt 


fOf  tf)0  jSDft^t  “For  this  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever: 

He  will  be  our  guide  even  unto  death.” 

— Psalm  48.  14. 


JLt$$0n  lot  t\ )t  2Da#t  Psalm  32.  8-1 1. 

8  I  will  instruct  thee  and  teach  thee  in  the  way  which  thou 

shalt  go: 

I  will  counsel  thee  with  mine  eye  upon  thee. 

9  Be  ye  not  as  the  horse,  or  as  the  mule,  which  have  no  under¬ 

standing  ; 

Whose  trappings  must  be  bit  and  bridle  to  hold  them  in, 
Else  they  will  not  come  near  unto  thee. 

10  Many  sorrows  shall  be  to  the  wicked; 

But  he  that  trusteth  in  Jehovah,  loving-kindness  shall  com¬ 
pass  him  about. 

11  Be  glad  in  Jehovah,  and  rejoice,  ye  righteous; 

And  shout  for  joy,  all  ye  that  are  upright  in  heart. 


“God  has  a  purpose  for  each  one  of  us,  a  work  for  each  one  to  do,  a  place  for  each 
one  to  fill,  an  influence  for  each  one  to  exert,  a  likeness  to  his  dear  Son  for  each  one  to 
manifest,  and  then,  a  place  for  each  one  to  fill  in  his  holy  temple.” — Arthur  C.  A.  Hall. 


“Father,  I  know  that  all  my  life 
Is  portioned  out  for  me; 

The  changes  that  are  sure  to  come, 

I  do  not  fear  to  see: 

I  ask  thee  for  a  present  mind 
Intent  on  blessing  thee. 

I  ask  thee  for  the  daily  strength 
To  none  that  ask  denied, 

A  mind  to  blend  with  outward  life, 

While  keeping  at  thy  side; 

Content  to  fill  a  little  space, 

If  thou  be  glorified.” 

— Anna  L.  Waring. 


y&tdytZ  f0t  “May  the  favor  of  the  Father  govern  us.  May  the 

wisdom  of  the  Son  enlighten  us.  May  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
quicken  us.  O  God,  we  beseech  thee,  guard  our  souls;  sustain  our  bodies; 
exalt  our  senses;  direct  our  course;  regulate  our  manners;  bless  our  under¬ 
takings;  fulfill  our  petitions;  inspire  us  with  holy  thoughts;  pardon  what  is 
past;  rectify  what  is  present;  order  what  is  to  come;  and  all  for  the  sake 
of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  who  alone  can  make  us  perfect  even 
as  he  is  perfect.”  Amen. — Bishop  Andrews  (1555). 


209 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  29 

2Dtbet£itie£  ot  drifts? 

fOt  tj)C  “Now  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  but  the  same 

Spirit.” — 1  Corinthians  12.  4. 

H££g0nf0tt8e2Dap:  I  Corinthians  12.  15-20. 

15  If  the  foot  shall  say,  Because  I  am  not  the  hand,  I  am 
not  of  the  body;  it  is  not  therefore  not  of  the  body.  16  And  if  the 
ear  shall  say,  Because  I  am  not  the  eye,  I  am  not  of  the  body;  it 
is  not  therefore  not  of  the  body.  17  If  the  whole  body  were  an 
eye,  where  were  the  hearing?  If  the  whole  were  hearing,  where 
were  the  smelling?  18  But  now  hath  God  set  the  members  each 
one  of  them  in  the  body,  even  as  it  pleased  him.  19  And  if  they 
were  all  one  member,  where  were  the  body?  20  But  now  they 
are  many  members,  but  one  body. 


“One  thing  is  indisputable:  the  chronic  mood  of  looking  longingly  at  what  we 
have  not,  or  thankfully  at  what  we  have,  realizes  two  very  different  types  of  character. 
And  we  certainly  can  encourage  the  one  or  the  other.” — Lucy  C.  Smith. 


“As  to  equality  and  inequality,  all  the  beauty  and  glory  of  life  come  from  inequal¬ 
ities.  If  we  were  all  Beethovens  or  Shakespeares  or  marvelous  in  any  one  direction, 
life  would  be  unbearable.  Who  shall  tell  me  if  an  Easter  lily  is  the  equal  of  a  rose,  or 
if  either  is  equal  to  an  oak  or  a  pine?  The  question  of  equality  is  out  of  the  court.  The 
one  thing  we  need  to  do  is  to  cultivate  the  finest  and  sweetest  things  in  us;  and  then 
whether  we  are  one  of  the  California  big  trees  or  the  violet  in  a  valley,  we  shall  help 
on  the  beauty  and  glory  of  the  earth.” — Robert  Collyer. 


Praprt  for  t&e  &>ag:  “  O  Thou  who  by  thy  Spirit  dost  endow  thy  servants 

with  diversities  of  gifts,  grant  unto  us,  whatever  may  be  our  calling,  the 
qualities  and  powers  that  shall  fit  us  to  do  our  work  well,  and  to  glorify 
thee  in  our  lot  whatever  it  may  be.  Make  plain  to  us  the  way  of  our  duty, 
and  give  wisdom  and  faith,  strength  and  endurance,  decision  of  mind  and 
faithfulness  in  action,  that  in  all  we  do  we  may  honor  thee.  Let  there 
be  no  complaining  of  thy  providence;  no  jealousy,  no  detraction,  no  envy 
or  bitterness  of  spirit.  Kindle  in  all  our  hearts  the  ambition  of  loving  best 
and  serving  most.  Baptize  all  with  the  one  Spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Pre¬ 
serve  those  who  are  in  high  position  from  ..the  pride  of  success,  and  those 
who  are  obscure  from  unquiet  thoughts.  May  sympathy,  the  purpose  to 
bear  one  another’s  burdens,  and  fellowship  in  holy  things  bind  together  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  And  may  thy  kingdom  come  and  thy  will  be 
done  in  all  the  earth.”  Amen. 


210 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  30 

jfaitS  ®jat  ^LU  <3HjfoQ£  &£Hotk  tlEagTtfjet  fat  Out  d5oob 


Ptt£it  fOt  tf)t  “And  we  know  that  to  them  that  love  God  all 

things  work  together  for  good.” — Romans  8.  28. 

ILt$&0n  for  tf)t  SDap:  Romans  8.  31-34. 

31  What  then  shall  we  say  to  these  things?  If  God  is  for  us, 
who  is  against  us?  32  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  deliv¬ 
ered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  also  with  him  freely  give 
us  all  things?  33  Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God’s 
elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth;  34  who  is  he  that  condemneth? 
It  is  Christ  Jesus  that  died,  yea  rather,  that  was  raised  from  the 
dead,  who  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  intercession 
for  us. 


“Believe  and  fear  not!  in  the  blackest  cloud 
A  sunbeam  hides;  and  from  the  deepest  pang, 

Some  hidden  mercy  shall  our  God  declare.” 

“The  firm  persuasion  that  all  things  that  concern  us  are  completely,  every  moment, 
in  the  hands  of  our  Father  above,  infinitely  wise  and  merciful;  that  he  disposes  all  events 
in  the  best  possible  manner,  and  that  we  shall  one  day  bless  him  for  even  his  most  dis¬ 
tressing  visitations — such  a  sublime  persuasion  will  make  the  heart  and  the  character 
sublime.” — John  Foster. 

pr aytz  tot  tfje  SDap;  “  O  Lord  God,  who  art  a  tower  of  strength  to  those 
that  put  their  trust  in  thee,  we  render  thanks  to  thee  for  thy  continued  gra¬ 
cious  protection,  and  for  all  the  daily  bounties  of  thy  providence.  Bless  unto 
us,  we  beseech  thee,  all  the  events  of  life;  may  we  read  in  them  thy  wisdom 
and  love;  whatever  trial  meets  us,  may  it  strengthen  our  trust  in  thee;  what¬ 
ever  sorrow,  may  it  wean  us  from  the  world ;  whatever  joy,  may  it  fill  our 
hearts  with  praise.  Forgive,  we  beseech  thee,  whatever  sinful  pride  or  vanity 
we  have  indulged,  whatever  hasty  words  we  have  spoken,  whatever  unkind 
acts  we  have  done,  and  whatever  kindness  we  have  failed  to  do  toward  the 
sick,  the  poor,  or  the  unfortunate.  Increase  in  us,  we  beseech  thee,  all  Chris¬ 
tian  graces:  may  we  forgive,  as  we  hope  to  be  forgiven;  may  we  love 
others,  even  as  Christ  hath  loved  us;  in  all  our  living  may  we  deny  our¬ 
selves,  that  we  may  have  to  give  to  him  that  needeth.  Take  from  us  all 
anxious  care:  may  it  be  our  constant  faith  that  thou  dost  make  all  things 
work  together  for  our  good ,  and  as  we  trust,  so  may  we  also  obey  thee  and 
walk  daily  and  diligently  in  the  path  of  thy  Commandments.  Above  all, 
sanctify  with  Christian  peace  and  love  our  domestic  circle,  and  receive  now 
our  united  prayers,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — John  McVickar. 


211 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  JULY  31 

25utUitng  of  tljt  temple  of  d5ob 


$£££»£  tOZ  ti)Z  SDftJK  “Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make  a  pillar  in  the 
temple  of  my  God.” — Revelation  3.  12  (King  James  version). 

3fe££onfot  tf)t2Dap:  Revelation  21.  i~5* 

1  And  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth:  for  the  first 
heaven  and  the  first  earth  are  passed  away;  and  the  sea  is  no 
more.  2  And  I  saw  the  holy  city,  new  Jerusalem,  coming  down 
out  of  heaven  from  God,  made  ready  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her 
husband.  3  And  I  heard  a  great  voice  out  of  the  throne  saying, 
Behold,  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  men,  and  he  shall  dwell  with 
them,  and  they  shall  be  his  peoples,  and  God  himself  shall  be  with 
them,  and  be  their  God:  4  and  he  shall  wipe  away  every  tear  from 
their  eyes;  and  death  shall  be  no  more;  neither  shall  there  be 
mourning,  nor  crying,  nor  pain,  any  more:  the  first  things  are  passed 
away.  5  And  he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  said,  Behold,  I  make 
all  things  new.  And  he  saith,  Write:  for  these  words  are  faith¬ 
ful  and  true. 


“Slowly,  through  all  the  universe,  that  temple  of  God  is  being  built.  Wherever, 
in  any  world,  a  soul,  by  free-willed  obedience,  catches  the  fire  of  God’s  likeness,  it  is  set 
into  the  growing  walls,  a  living  stone.  When,  in  your  hard  fight,  in  your  tiresome 
drudgery,  or  in  your  terrible  temptation,  you  catcji  the  purpose  of  your  being,  and  give 
yourself  to  God,  and  so  give  him  the  chance  to  give  himself  to  you,  your  life,  a  living 
stone,  is  taken  up  and  set  into  that  growing  wall.  .  .  .  Wherever  souls  are  being  tried 
and  ripened,  in  whatever  commonplace  and  homely  ways,  there  God  is  hewing  out 
the  pillars  for  his  temple.” — Phillips  Brooks. 


“When  the  heavenly  city,  the  New  Jerusalem,  shall  at  last  appear,  that  honest 
effort  of  ours,  which  seemed  so  ineffectual,  shall  be  found  to  be  a  brick  built  into  that 
eternal  and  celestial  fabric.” — Charles  Gore. 


^Z&VtZ  fot  “O  Lord,  we  acknowledge  thy  dominion  over  us; 

our  life,  our  death,  our  soul  and  body,  all  belong  to  thee.  Oh,  grant  that 
we  may  willingly  consecrate  them  all  to  thee,  and  use  them  in  thy  service. 
Let  us  walk  before  thee  in  childlike  simplicity,  steadfast  in  prayer;  looking 
ever  unto  thee,  that  whatsoever  we  do  or  abstain  from,  we  may  in  all  things 
follow  the  least  indications  of  thy  will.  Become  Lord  of  our  hearts  and 
spirits;  that  the  whole  inner  man  may  be  brought  under  thy  rule,  and  that 
thy  life  of  love  and  righteousness  may  pervade  all  our  thoughts  and  energies, 
and  the  very  ground  of  our  souls;  that  we  may  be  wholly  filled  with  it. 
Come,  O  Lord  and  King,  enter  into  our  hearts,  and  live  and  reign  there 
for  ever  and  ever.  O  faithful  Lord,  teach  us  to  trust  thee  for  life  and  death, 
and  to  take  thee  for  our  All  in  All,  thou  who  art  the  Son  of  God,  our  Lord 
and  Saviour.”  Amen. — Gerhard  T ersteegen  (1697-1769). 


212 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  i 


SDdifcmnce  Jftom  Jfeat 

(0E  tf)t  2Da$H  “Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am  with  thee;  be  not  dis¬ 
mayed,  for  I  am  thy  God ;  I  will  strengthen  thee ;  yea,  I  will  help  thee ; 
yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness.” — Isaiah 
41.  10. 

for  tjje  2Dap:  Psalm  34.  1-8. 

1  I  will  bless  Jehovah  at  all  times: 

His  praise  shall  continually  be  in  my  mouth. 

2  My  soul  shall  make  her  boast  in  Jehovah: 

The  meek  shall  hear  thereof,  and  be  glad. 

3  Oh  magnify  Jehovah  with  me, 

And  let  us  exalt  his  name  together. 

4  I  sought  Jehovah,  and  he  answered  me, 

And  delivered  me  from  all  my  fears. 

5  They  looked  unto  him,  and  were  radiant; 

And  their  faces  shall  never  be  confounded. 

6  This  poor  man  cried,  and  Jehovah  heard  him, 

And  saved  him  out  of  all  his  troubles. 

7  The  angel  of  Jehovah  encampeth  round  about  them  that  fear 

him, 

And  delivereth  them. 

8  Oh  taste  and  see  that  Jehovah  is  good: 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  taketh  refuge  in  him. 


“Give  to  the  winds  thy  feafs; 

Hope  and  be  undismayed: 

God  hears  thy  sighs,  and  counts  thy  tears: 

God  shall  lift  up  thy  head. 

Through  waves,  through  clouds  and  storms, 

He  gently  clears  the  way. 

Wait  thou  his  time;  so  shall  the  night 
Soon  end  in  joyous  day.” 

— Gerhardt. 


(Ot  tyt  “We  give  thee  thanks — yea,  more  than  thanks — O 

Lord  our  God,  for  all  thy  goodness  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  because  thou 
hast  shielded,  rescued,  helped,  and  guided  us  all  the  days  of  our  lives,  and 
brought  us  unto  this  hour.  We  pray  and  beseech  thee,  merciful  God,  to 
grant  in  thy  goodness  that  we  may  spend  this  day,  and  all  the  time  of  our 
lives,  without  sin,  in  fullness  of  joy,  holiness,  and  reverence  of  thee.  But  drive 
away  from  us,  O  Lord,  all  envy,  all  fear,  and  all  temptations.  Bestow  upon 
us  what  is  good  and  meet.  Whatever  sin  we  commit  in  thought,  word,  or 
deed,  do  thou  in  thy  goodness  and  mercy  be  pleased  to  pardon.  And  lead 
us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil;  through  the  grace,  mercy, 
and  love  of  thine  only  begotten  Son.”  Amen. — Liturgy  of  Saint  Mark, 
175  A.  D. 


213 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  2 


Eobe  'ZITtiumpSant 

tot  t!)f  SDftJG  “Yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love.” 

— J eremiah  31.  3. 

JLz&$mx  tot  t$z  SDag:  John  15.  9-15. 

9  Even  as  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  I  also  have  loved  you: 
abide  ye  in  my  love.  10  If  ye  keep  my  commandments,  ye  shall 
abide  in  my  love;  even  as  I  have  kept  my  Father’s  commandments, 
and  abide  in  his  love,  n  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you, 
that  my  joy  may  be  in  you,  and  that  your  joy  may  be  made  full. 
12  This  is  my  commandment,  that  ye  love  one  another,  even  as  I 
have  loved  you.  13  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man 
lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends.  14  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do 
the  things  which  I  command  you.  15  No  longer  do  I  call  you 
servants;  for  the  servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth:  but 
I  have  called  you  friends;  for  all  things  that  I  heard  from  my 
Father  I  have  made  known  unto  you. 

“Love  is  kind,  and  suffers  long; 

Love  is  meek,  and  thinks  no  wrong; 

Love  than  death  itself  more  strong; 

Therefore  give  us  love. 

“Faith  will  vanish  into  sight; 

Hope  be  emptied  in  delight; 

Love  in  heaven  will  shine  more  bright; 

Therefore  give  us  love.”  — Chr.  Wordsworth. 

“Think  what  it  is  to  be  full  of  love  to  every  creature;  to  be  frightened  at  nothing, 
to  be  sure  that  all  things  will  turn  to  good,  not  to  mind  pain,  because  it  is  our  Father’s 
will;  to  know  that  nothing  could  part  us  from  God  who  loves  us,  and  who  fills  our  souls 
with  peace  and  joy,  because  we  are  sure  that  whatever  he  wills  is  holy,  just  and  good.” — 
Georgs  Eliot. 

y&Z&ytt  (Ot  tf)t  Our  heavenly  Father,  we  bring  to  thee  our  praise 

and  thanksgiving  for  thy  abundant  mercy  which  is  new  every  morning  and 
renewed  at  every  evening  tide.  May  the  appreciation  of  thy  goodness  so  grow 
upon  us  that  we  may  love  thee  more  and  serve  thee  better.  May  nothing 
separate  us  from  the  love  of  God  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  May  we  lay  aside 
every  weight  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  us,  and  may  we  run  with 
patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and 
finisher  of  our  faith,  who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the 
cross,  despised  the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of 
God.  And  as  thou  hast  promised  to  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask, 
we  humbly  pray  for  this  gift,  that  we  may  be  kept  from  carelessness  and 
hardness  of  heart,  from  fretfulness  and  impatience,  from  vanity  and  pride, 
from  self-seeking  and  covetousness,  and  from  the  unhappy  desire  of  obtaining 
honor  and  fame.  And  as  thou  dost  keep  us  from  these,  wilt  thou  grant  unto 
us  such  love  and  joy,  such  peace  and  long-suffering,  such  gentleness  and  good¬ 
ness,  such  faith,  meekness  and  temperance  that  we  may  daily  live  our  lives  in 
the  spirit  and  mind  of  Christ,  and  this  we  ask  in  the  name  of  Him  who  hath 
loved  us,  even  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

214 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  3 

'Eg t  ot  pain  and  ^ottoto 


fOt  tf)t  SDapt  “For  it  became  him,  for  whom  are  all  things,  and 
through  whom  are  all  things,  in  bringing  many  sons  unto  glory,  to  make 
the  author  of  their  salvation  perfect  through  suffering.” — Hebrews  2.  10. 

JLt^on  (ot  tf\t  2Dap:  Hebrews  5.  7— IO. 

7  Who  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  having  offered  up  prayers  and 
supplications  with  strong  crying  and  tears  unto  him  that  was  able 
to  save  him  from  death,  and  having  been  heard  for  his  godly  fear, 
8  though  he  was  a  Son,  yet  learned  obedience  by  the  things  which 
he  suffered;  9  and  having  been  made  perfect,  he  became  unto  all 
them  that  obey  him  the  author  of  eternal  salvation;  10  named  of  God 
a  high  priest  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek. 


“I  said  to  Pain,  ‘I  will  not  have  thee  here! 

The  nights  are  weary  and  the  days  are  drear 
In  thy  hard  company!’ 

He  clasped  me  close  and  held  me  still  so  long 
I  learned  how  deep  his  voice,  how  sweet  his  song, 

How  far  his  eyes  can  see.” 

— Alice  Freeman  Palmer. 

“Why  is  so  much  undeserved  suffering  in  the  world?  I  do  not  know.  But  this 
seems  clear,  that  when  any  part  of  that  suffering  is  taken  up  and  borne  for  love’s  sake, 
a  new  portion  of  moral  health  and  hopefulness  comes  in  to  strengthen  and  bless  the 
world.” — Warner. 

Ptagtt  (ot  tf)t  “O  Thou  who  art  the  only  sin-bearer  and  burden- 

bearer  of  the  world,  unto  thee,  O  Christ  of  God,  the  Anointed  One,  per¬ 
fected  through  suffering,  and  still  bearing  the  cross  for  all  humanity,  we  come 
to  thee  and  unto  thee  we  bring  our  burdens  and  our  sins;  the  sorrows  that 
are  laid  upon  us;  the  griefs  that  are  wrought  in  us.  We  do  not  ask  thee  to 
take  burdens  from  us,  but  to  teach  us  how  to  bear  them.  Make  us  strong, 
we  pray  thee,  through  bearing  them.  May  we  know  how  to  be  profited  by 
them.  May  the  tears  that  fill  our  eyes  be  not  in  vain.  If  sorrow  plow  deep 
furrows  in  our  hearts  may  they  not  plow  in  vain.  May  we  be  made  per¬ 
fect  through  suffering.  May  we  learn  patience  and  gentleness  and  courage 
and  fidelity  and  heroism,  and  above  all  may  we  learn  godliness  and  devout 
and  humble  trust  in  thee.  We  welcome  storms  if  they  but  bring  us  nearer 
the  desired  haven.  We  welcome  even  hardness  if  so  be  it  may  bring  us  nearer 
to  thee,  the  everlasting  Light.  Comfort  all  those  who  mourn,  lift  up  those 
that  are  fallen  down,  strengthen  the  weak,  guide  the  perplexed,  illumine 
those  that  are  in  darkness,  be  all  and  in  all  to  all  thy  children.  Sanctify,  bless, 
and  save  us  and  to  thy  name,  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  will  we  give  praise 
and  glory  forever.”  Amen. — Abbott. 


215 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  4 

Casting  £Du r  Button  flllpon  tlje  2f0tl> 


IPtt&t  far  t fjt  2Dap; 


for  tSeSDap: 


“Cast  thy  burden  upon  Jehovah,  and  he  will  sustain 
thee : 

He  will  never  suffer  the  righteous  to  be  moved.” 

— Psalm  55.  22. 

Isaiah  25.  1—5,  8. 


1  O  Jehovah,  thou  art  my  God;  I  will  exalt  thee,  I  will  praise 
thy  name;  for  thou  hast  done  wonderful  things,  even  counsels  of 
old,  in  faithfulness  and  truth.  2  For  thou  hast  made  of  a  city 
a  heap,  of  a  fortified  city  a  ruin,  a  palace  of  strangers  to  be  no 
city;  it  shall  never  be  built.  3  Therefore  shall  a  strong  people 
glorify  thee;  a  city  of  terrible  nations  shall  fear  thee.  4  For  thou 
hast  been  a  stronghold  to  the  poor,  a  stronghold  to  the  needy  in 
his  distress,  a  refuge  from  the  storm,  a  shade  from  the  heat,  when 
the  blast  of  the  terrible  ones  is  as  a  storm  against  the  wall.  5  As 
the  heat  in  a  dry  place  wilt  thou  bring  down  the  noise  of  strangers; 
as  the  heat  by  the  shade  of  a  cloud,  the  song  of  the  terrible  ones 
shall  be  brought  low.  ...  8  He  hath  swallowed  up  death  for¬ 

ever;  and  the  Lord  Jehovah  will  wipe  away  tears  from  off  all  faces; 
and  the  reproach  of  his  people  will  he  take  away  from  off  all 
the  earth:  for  Jehovah  hath  spoken  it. 


“I  have  no  cares,  O  blessed  Will! 

For  all  my  cares  are  thine. 

I  live  in  triumph,  Lord,  for  thou 

Hast  made  thy  triumphs  mine.”  — A.  W.  Faber. 

“We  are  not  only  permitted,  we  are  commanded,  to  cast  all  our  care  upon  God; 
and  that,  too,  upon  the  very  principle  of  his  caring  for  us.  All  our  care!  Oh  that  we 
might  learn  to  keep  no  care  to  ourselves,  to  commit  our  least  anxieties  to  God,  to  lean 
upon  his  assistance  in  the  performance  of  our  least  duties,  upon  his  strength  in  the  en¬ 
durance  of  our  least  trials,  upon  his  comforts  for  the  soothing  of  our  least  sorrows!  If 
we  would  not  exclude  God  from  anything  little,  we  should  find  him  with  us  in  every¬ 
thing  great.  If  we  thought  nothing  beneath  God,  we  should  find  nothing  above  him.” 
— Henry  Melville. 


^Eft£EE  (OE  tfjt  “O  Lord,  let  us  think  on  those  words:  ‘Cast  thy 

burden  upon  the  Lord/  The  burden  of  life  is  hard  to  be  borne;  we  stoop, 
we  stumble,  we  fall,  but  we  have  thee  to  turn  to.  Our  burden  is  unto  thee 
as  naught:  we  will  cast  it  on  thee,  then  we  shall  not  find  it  heavy;  or  if  it 
is  still  heavy  to  be  borne,  it  will  be  only  heavy  to  cause  our  better  going. 
Whatsoever  be  our  weary  weight  of  hidden  care,  thou  only  canst  know,  and 
thy  mighty  strength  will  bear  us  up,  for  thy  Son  didst  say  those  blessed 
words,  that  no  sparrow  even  shall  fall  to  the  ground  without  thee.  The 
comforts  of  God  are  always  given  to  those  who  truly  need  them.  The  Good 
Shepherd  calleth  his  sheep  by  name.  Oh,  call  us  each  by  name!  the  young, 
the  old,  the  sad,  the  glad.  Teach  us  how  to  weave  a  sorrow  into  a  strength. 
In  sickness  and  in  sadness  may  our  footsteps  become  stronger  because  thou 
art  with  us.  Forgive  our  sins.  Guide  us,  uphold  us,  and  when  we  lay  down 
this  weary  burden  of  this  life  and  its  cares,  take  us  through  thy  great  love  to 
dwell  with  thee  forevermore.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

216 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  5 

Shafting  flDu z  Burbengi  Blestertnotf 


iPeitfe  (oc  tj)e  £Dag:  “  For  our  light  affliction,  which  is  for  the  moment, 
worketh  for  us  more  and  more  exceedingly  an  eternal  weight  of  glory.” — 
2  Corinthians  4.  17. 

lUsigon  (or  tijeSDag:  Hebrews  12.  9— 1 3. 

9  Furthermore,  we  had  the  fathers  of  our  flesh  to  chasten  us, 
and  we  gave  them  reverence :  shall  we  not  much  rather  be  in  sub¬ 
jection  unto  the  Father  of  spirits,  and  live?  10  For  they  indeed 
for  a  few  days  chastened  us  as  seemed  good  to  them;  but  he  for 
our  profit,  that  we  may  be  partakers  of  his  holiness,  n  All  chas¬ 
tening  seemeth  for  the  present  to  be  not  joyous  but  grievous;  yet 
afterward  it  yieldeth  peaceable  fruit  unto  them  that  have  been 
exercised  thereby,  even  the  fruit  of  righteousness.  12  Wherefore 
lift  up  the  hands  that  hang  down,  and  the  palsied  knees;  13  and 
make  straight  paths  for  your  feet,  that  that  which  is  lame  be  not 
turned  out  of  the  way,  but  rather  be  healed. 


“Why  should  we,  then,  burden  ourselves  with  superfluous  cares,  and  fatigue  and 
weary  ourselves  in  the  multiplicity  of  our  ways?  Let  us  rest  in  peace.  God  himself 
inviteth  us  to  cast  our  cares,  our  anxieties  upon  him.” — Madame  Guyon. 

“Every  trouble  is  an  opportunity  to  win  the  grace  of  strength.  Whatever  else 
trouble  is  in  the  world  for,  it  is  here  for  this  good  purpose — to  develop  strength.  For 
a  trouble  is  a  moral  and  spiritual  task.  It  is  something  which  is  hard  to  do.  And  it 
is  in  the  spiritual  world  as  in  the  physical,  strength  is  increased  by  encounter  with  the 
difficult.  A  world  without  any  trouble  in  it  would  be,  to  people  of  our  kind,  a  place  of 
spiritual  enervation  and  moral  laziness.  Fortunately,  every  day  is  crowded  with  care. 
Every  day  to  every  one  of  us  brings  its  questions,  its  worries,  and  its  tasks,  brings  its 
sufficiency  of  trouble.  Thus  we  get  our  daily  spiritual  exercise.  Every  day  we  are 
blessed  with  new  opportunities  for  the  development  of  strength  of  soul.” — George 
Hodges. 


(Ot  j£Da#$  “Our  Father,  who  hast  made  this  wonderful  and 
beautiful  world  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  man,  who  giveth  us  all  things 
richly  to  enjoy,  grant  that  the  burdens  and  the  trials  of  life  may  not,  through 
any  spirit  of  ingratitude  or  any  defect  of  will,  be  allowed  to  become  to  us 
sources  of  unhappiness  or  misery.  Help  us  to  keep  ever  in  remembrance 
that  every  burden  may  become  to  us  a  means  of  increasing  our  strength,  and 
that  every  trial  may  be  a  blessing  in  disguise,  sent  to  develop  in  us  likeness 
to  our  Master.  Give  us  grace  to  accept  all  the  experiences  of  life  with  cheer¬ 
fulness;  teach  us,  in  whatsoever  state  we  are,  therewith  to  be  content;  and 
help  us,  O  our  Father,  by  our  gladness  of  heart  to  add  somewhat  to  the 
peace  and  joy  of  life  of  all  with  whom  we  meet.”  Amen. 


217 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  6 


'flTfjc  Care 

(or  tj)£  2Da^:  “I  am  the  good  shepherd:  the  good  shepherd  layeth 
down  his  life  for  the  sheep.” — John  io.  II. 

JLz&$on  (or  tlje  SDap:  Psalm  23. 

1  Jehovah  is  my  shepherd;  I  shall  not  want. 

2  He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures; 

He  leadeth  me  beside  still  waters. 

3  He  restoreth  my  soul: 

He  guideth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteousness  for  his  name’s 
sake. 

4  Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 

death, 

I  will  fear  no  evil;  for  thou  art  with  me; 

Thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me. 

5  Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me  in  the  presence  of  mine 

enemies: 

Thou  hast  anointed  my  head  with  oil;  my  cup  runneth  over. 

6  Surely  goodness  and  loving-kindness  shall  follow  me  all  the 

days  of  my  life; 

And  I  shall  dwell  in  the  house  of  Jehovah  forever. 


“Lo,  my  Shepherd’s  hand  divine! 
Want  shall  never  more  be  mine. 

In  a  pasture  fair  and  large 
He  shall  feed  his  happy  charge; 
And  my  couch,  with  tenderest  care, 
Mid  the  springing  grass  prepare.” 


— M  errick. 


“He  is  our  Shepherd,  going  before  us  and  never  behind;  calling,  but  never  driving, 
bearing  all  the  losses  he  calls  us  to  bear;  meeting  all  the  dangers,  suffering  all  the  cruelties 
and  pains  which  it  is  given  us  to  suffer,  and  drawing  us  to  follow  where  he  leads.” — 
Horace  Bushnell. 

“Try  to  feel,  by  imagining  what  the  lonely  Syrian  shepherd  must  feel  toward  the 
helpless  things  which  are  the  companions  of  his  daily  life,  for  whose  safety  he  stands  in 
jeopardy  every  hour,  and  whose  value  is  measured  to  him  not  by  price,  but  by  his  own 
jeopardy,  and  then  we  have  reached  some  notion  of  the  love  which  Jesus  meant  to  rep¬ 
resent;  that  Eternal  tenderness  which  bends  over  us,  and  knows  the  name  of  each  and 
the  trials  of  each,  and  thinks  for  each  with  a  separate  solicitude,  and  gave  itself  for 
each  with  a  sacrifice  as  special,  and  a  love  as  personal,  as  if  in  the  whole  world’s  wilder¬ 
ness  there  were  none  other  but  that  one.” — Frederick  W.  Robertson. 


(Ot  tfjZ  2D  a#*  “O  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  who  didst  promise  to 
carry  the  lambs  in  thine  arms,  and  to  lead  us  by  the  still  waters,  help  us 
to  know  the  peace  which  passeth  understanding.  Give  us  to  drink  that 
heavenly  draught  which  is  life,  the  calm  patience  which  is  content  to  bear 
what  God  giveth.  Have  mercy  upon  us,  and  hear  our  prayers.  Lead  us 
gently  when  we  pass  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  Guide  us, 
till  at  last,  in  the  assembly  of  thy  saints,  we  may  find  rest  forevermore;  for 
thine  own  Name’s  sake.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1877). 

218 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  7 

Cfjrtet  ag  tfie  WHa# 


Cot  tfjt  SDa^t  “I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life.” — 
John  14.  6. 

Cot  CSt  2Dap:  Hebrews  10.  19-25. 

19  Having  therefore,  brethren,  boldness  to  enter  into  the  holy 
place  by  the  blood  of  Jesus,  20  by  the  way  which  he  dedicated  for 
us,  a  new  and  living  way,  through  the  veil,  that  is  to  say,  his  flesh; 
21  and  having  a  great  priest  over  the  house  of  God;  22  let  us  draw 
near  with  a  true  heart  in  fullness  of  faith,  having  our  hearts 
sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience:  and  having  our  body  washed 
with  pure  water,  23  let  us  hold  fast  the  confession  of  our  hope  that 
it  waver  not;  for  he  is  faithful  that  promised:  24  and  let  us  con¬ 
sider  one  another  to  provoke  unto  love  and  good  works;  25  not  for¬ 
saking  our  own  assembling  together,  as  the  custom  of  some  is, 
but  exhorting  one  another;  and  so  much  the  more,  as  ye  see  the 
day  drawing  nigh. 


“Thou  art  my  Way; 

Without  thee,  Lord,  I  travel  not,  but  stray. 

“My  Light  thou  art;  without  thy  glorious  sight, 

Mine  eyes  are  darkened  with  perpetual  night. 

My  God,  thou  art  my  Way,  my  Life,  my  Light. 

Thou  art  my  Way;  I  wander  if  thou  fly; 

Thou  art  my  Light;  if  hid,  how  blind  am  I! 

Thou  art  my  Life;  if  thou  withdraw,  I  die.” 

— Francis  Quarles. 


“We  have  been  placed  upon  the  Way.  We  have  been  taught  the  Truth.  We 
have  been  made  partakers  of  the  Life.  The  Way  must  be  traversed;  the  1  ruth  must 
be  pursued;  the  Life  must  be  realized.  Then  cometh  the  end.  Our  pilgrimage,  long  as 
it  may  be  or  short,  if  we  have  walked  in  Christ,  will  leave  us  by  the  throne  of  God;  our 
partial  knowledge,  if  we  have  looked  upon  all  things  in  Christ,  will  be  lost  in  open  sight; 
our  little  lives,  perfected,  purified,  harmonized  in  him  whom  we  have  trusted,  will  be¬ 
come,  in  due  order,  parts  of  the  One  Divine  Life,  when  God  is  all  in  all.” — Brooke  Foss 
Westcott. 


pt Cot  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  has  consecrated  for  us 

a  new  and  living  way,  be  thou  to  every  one  of  us,  we  entreat  thee,  the  W ay 
and  Door  of  heaven ,  Bread  of  our  life,  Light  of  our  goings,  Stay  of  our 
weakness.  Give  us  grace  daily  to  walk  in  thy  lovely  footsteps,  and  in  our 
several  degrees  to  go  about  doing  good.  When  we  give  alms  let  not  our  left 
hand  know  what  our  right  hand  doeth ;  when  our  light  shines  let  it  so  shine 
that  men  may  glorify  our  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  By  thy  death  save  us; 
by  thy  resurrection  raise  us  up  into  life  eternal :  in  our  death,  love  and  com¬ 
fort  us;  in  thy  judgment,  love  and  justify  us.”  Amen. — Christina  G.  Rossetti 
(1830-1894). 


219 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  8 


Waiting  Opon  Got} 

(0t  t|)t  D&p:  “It  is  good  that  a  man  should  hope  and  quietly  wait 
for  the  salvation  of  Jehovah.” — Lamentations  3.  26. 

He££on  tor  tlje  Dap:  Psalm  37.  7-9.  27.  13,  14. 

7  Rest  in  Jehovah,  and  wait  patiently  for  him: 

Fret  not  thyself  because  of  him  who  prospereth  in  his  way, 
Because  of  the  man  who  bringeth  wicked  devices  to  pass. 

8  Cease  from  anger,  and  forsake  wrath: 

Fret  not  thyself,  it  tendeth  only  to  evil-doing. 

9  For  evil-doers  shall  be  cut  off ; 

But  those  that  wait  for  Jehovah,  they  shall  inherit  the  land. 
27.  13  I  had  fainted,  unless  I  had  believed  to  see  the  goodness 
of  Jehovah 

In  the  land  of  the  living. 

14  Wait  for  Jehovah: 

Be  strong  and  let  thy  heart  take  courage; 

Yea,  wait  thou  for  Jehovah. 


‘‘When  I  consider  how  my  light  is  spent 

Ere  half  my  days  in  this  dark  world  and  wide, 

And  that  one  Talent  which  is  death  to  hide 
Lodged  with  me  useless,  though  my  soul  more  bent 
To  serve  therewith  my  Maker,  and  present 
My  true  account,  lest  he  returning  chide, 

‘Doth  God  exact  day-labor,  light  denied?’ 

I  fondly  ask.  But  Patience,  to  prevent 
That  murmur,  soon  replies,  ‘God  doth  not  need 

Either  man’s  work  or  his  own  gifts.  Who  best 
Bear  his  mild  yoke,  they  serve  him  best.  His  state 
Is  kingly:  thousands  at  his  bidding  speed, 

And  post  o’er  land  and  ocean  without  rest; 

They  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait.’  ” 

— John  Milton. 


Ptap*t  (at  tjje  Dap:  O  God  of  infinite  wisdom  and  goodness,  we  ac¬ 
knowledge  our  debt  to  thee  for  all  we  have  and  all  we  are.  It  is  thine  to 
bestow  and  thine  to  withhold.  Thou  givest  far  more  than  thou  takest  away; 
and  howsoever  much  thou  dost  withhold  we  are  indebted  to  thee  for  more 
than  we  can  compute.  For  all  we  thank  thee.  Especially  do  we  thank  thee 
for  Christ  and  for  the  light  and  life  that  is  in  him.  Though  we  cannot  under¬ 
stand  all  that  we  are  called  upon  to  experience  and  to  endure  we  can  trust 
thee.  Aid  us  by  the  Spirit  so  to  trust  thee  that  all  the  discipline  of  life  may 
work  out  for  our  good.  Whatsoever  trial  or  affliction  may  come  upon  us 
help  us  to  remember  that  it  is  good  that  a  man  should  hope  and  quietly  wait 
for  the  salvation  of  Jehovah.  We  do  wait  upon  thee  for  the  revealing  of  thy 
will.  Grant  to  bless  this  day  all  who  seek  to  know  and  do  thy  bidding. 
May  faith  and  hope  have  a  new  birth  this  day  in  the  hearts  of  many.  We 
ask  it  through  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 


220 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  9 

jfaitf)  m  Cfirisrt 


Wtz&t  (or  tf)e  £Dag:  ‘  ‘And  this  is  his  commandment,  that  we  should  be¬ 
lieve  in  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  love  one  another.” — i  John 
3-  23. 

fot  tf)£  John  14.  1,  11,  12;  Galatians  2.  16,  20. 

i  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled:  believe  in  God,  believe  also 
in  me.  .  .  .  n  Believe  me  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the 

Father  in  me:  or  else  believe  me  for  the  very  work’s  sake.  12  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I 
do  shall  he  do  also;  and  greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do;  be¬ 
cause  I  go  unto  the  Father. 

2.  16  Yet  knowing  that  a  man  is  not  justified  by  the  works  of 
the  law  but  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  even  we  believed  on 
Christ  Jesus,  that  we  might  be  justified  by  faith  in  Christ,  and 
not  by  the  works  of  the  law:  because  by  the  works  of  the  law  shall 
no  flesh  be  justified.  ...  20  I  have  been  crucified  with  Christ; 

and  it  is  no  longer  I  that  live,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me :  and  that 
life  which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh  I  live  in  faith,  the  faith  which 
is  in  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  up  for  me. 


“Next  to  the  revelation  of  God  as  a  loving  heavenly  Father,  the  most  important 
insight  of  the  apostolic  church  was  that  of  the  brotherhood  of  all  men  in  Christ.” — 
Sidney  L.  Gulick. 


“Strong  Son  of  God,  immortal  Love, 

Whom  we,  that  have  not  seen  thy  face, 

By  faith,  and  faith  alone,  embrace, 

Believing  where  we  cannot  prove; 

“Thou  seemest  human  and  divine. 

The  highest,  holiest  manhood,  thou: 

Our  wills  are  ours,  we  know  not  how; 

Our  wills  are  ours,  to  make  them  thine. 

“We  have  but  faith:  we  cannot  know: 

For  knowledge  is  of  things  we  see; 

And  yet  we  trust  it  comes  from  thee, 

A  beam  of  darkness:  let  it  grow.” 

— Alfred  Tennyson. 

i 

^ZfiyZZ  Cot  tf)Z  $Da$*  “Almighty  God,  Father  of  mercies,  from  whom 
cometh  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  give  unto  us,  we  beseech  thee,  grace  to 
believe  on  the  name  of  Christ.  1  believe :  Lord,  help  thou  my  unbelief !  Let 
us  be  strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  thee,  and  having  a  full  persuasion  that 
thou  wilt  perform  all  that  thou  hast  promised.  O,  help  us  to  count  all 
things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 
Enable  us  so  to  believe,  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  our  hearts;  and  we  may 
supremely  love  thee,  our  God,  and  unfeignedly  love  all  our  fellow  creatures. 
Hear  us  for  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — E.  Bickersteth  (1786-1850). 

221 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  io 


TLi )t  Hxrbelation  Cljttet 

$£££»£  tot  tljt  “And  the  Word  became  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us 

(and  we  beheld  his  glory,  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  from  the  Father), 
full  of  grace  and  truth.” — John  i.  14. 

%c$$on  tot  tgeSDap:  Hebrews  1.  1—4,  7~9- 

1  God,  having  of  old  time  spoken  unto  the  fathers  in  the 
prophets  by  divers  portions  and  in  divers  manners,  2  hath  at  the 
end  of  these  days  spoken  unto  us  in  his  Son,  whom  he  appointed 
heir  of  all  things,  through  whom  also  he  made  the  worlds;  3  who 
being  the  effulgence  of  his  glory,  and  the  very  image  of  his  sub¬ 
stance,  and  upholding  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power,  when 
he  had  made  purification  of  sins,  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  Majesty  on  high;  4  having  become  by  so  much  better  than  the 
angels,  as  he  hath  inherited  a  more  excellent  name  than  they. 

7  And  of  the  angels  he  saith, 

Who  maketh  his  angels  winds, 

And  his  ministers  a  flame  of  fire: 

8  But  of  the  Son  he  saith. 

Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever; 

And  the  scepter  of  uprightness  is  the  scepter  of  thy  kingdom. 

9  Thou  hast  loved  righteousness,  and  hated  iniquity; 

Therefore  God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee 
With  the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows. 


“God,  it  may  be,  has  other  words  for  other  worlds, 

But  for  our  world  the  word  of  God  is  Christ.” 

“And  this  is  life  eternal — to  know  him.  .  .  .  Always  I  am  trying  to  understand 
the  truth  of  Christ,  the  truth  in  Christ;  always  I  am  trying  to  master  Christ’s  program 
and  purpose,  to  know  fully  what  he  intended  and  intends  to  do  in  the  world;  always 
I  am  trying  to  become  acquainted  with  him.  For  this  triple  purpose  many  times  and 
in  many  ways  each  year  I  read  and  study  the  four  Gospels,  and  seek  all  light  from  all 
sources  upon  these  problems.  .  .  .  What  truth,  what  activities,  what  a  Person!  It 
is  the  truth  best  worth  learning.  It  is  the  thing  best  worth  doing.  He  is  the  person 
best  worth  knowing.” — William  Fraser  McDowell. 

draper  tot  tfjt  SDaju  “  O  Lord,  whom  to  believe  is  the  root  of  all  right¬ 
eousness,  whom  to  know  is  life  eternal,  open,  we  pray  thee,  our  understand¬ 
ings  that  we  may  perceive  the  meaning  of  thy  holy  Word.  Thou,  O  God, 
by  thy  gospel  and  the  preaching  of  Jesus  Christ,  hast  revealed  unto  men  the 
mystery  which  was  hidden  from  the  beginning  of  the  world ;  but  who  can 
search  out  thy  counsel  unless  thou  give  wisdom  through  thy  Spirit  from  on 
high?  O  glorious  Father,  bestow  upon  us,  then,  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
revelation,  that  we  may  know  thee,  and  know  Christ  and  the  fellowship  of 
his  sufferings,  and  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  his  will.  May  we  be  rich 
in  all  comfort  and  knowledge  and  true  doctrine.  Let  the  preaching  of  thy 
Son  become  a  living  energy  within  us,  that  we  may  bring  forth  the  fruit  of 
good  works.  Fo  thee  be  all  honor,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  forever 
and  ever.”  Amen. — Albinus  (1697-1770), 

222 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  ii 


USe  COurtfi  ot  C&rtgt 

Uttsfe  tor  tOe  &>ag:  “The  church  of  the  living  God,  the  pillar  and 
ground  of  the  truth.” — I  Timothy  3.  15. 

EtjSgonfoc  tO 1 2Dag:  Ephesians  5.  25-27. 

25  Christ  also  loved  the  church,  and  gave  himself  up  for  it; 
26  that  he  might  sanctify  it,  having  cleansed  it  by  the  washing  of 
water  with  the  word,  27  that  he  might  present  the  church  to  him¬ 
self  a  glorious  church ,  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle  or  any  such 
thing;  but  that  it  should  be  holy  and  without  blemish. 

“The  Church’s  one  foundation 
Is  Jesus  Christ  her  Lord: 

She  is  his  new  creation 
By  water  and  the  Word; 

From  heaven  he  came  and  sought  her 
To  be  his  holy  bride. 

With  his  own  blood  he  bought  her 
And  for  her  life  he  died. 

“Elect  from  every  nation, 

Yet  one  o’er  all  the  earth, 

Her  charter  of  salvation 

One  Lord,  one  Faith,  one  Birth; 

One  holy  name  she  blesses, 

Partakes  one  holy  food, 

And  to  one  hope  she  presses, 

With  every  grace  endued. 

“The  church  shall  never  perish! 

Her  dear  Lord  to  defend. 

To  guide,  sustain,  and  cherish, 

Is  with  her  to  the  end: 

Though  there  be  those  who  hate  her, 

And  false  sons  in  her  pale, 

Against  her  foe  or  traitor 
She  ever  shall  prevail.” 

— Samuel  John  Stone. 

ptagft  foe  tljc  t>ag:  “  O  God,  the  Creator  and  Preserver  of  all  man¬ 
kind,  we  humbly  beseech  thee  for  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men;  that  thou 
wouldest  be  pleased  to  make  thy  ways  known  unto  them,  thy  saving  health 
unto  all  nations.  More  especially,  we  pray  for  .  .  .  the  church,  that  it 

may  be  so  guided  and  governed  by  thy  good  Spirit  that  all  who  profess  and 
call  themselves  Christians  may  be  led  into  the  way  of  truth,  and  hold  the 
faith  in  unity  of  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace,  and  in  righteousness  of  life. 
We  commend  to  thy  fatherly  goodness  all  those  who  are  in  any  ways  afflicted 
or  distressed  in  mind,  body,  or  estate,  that  it  may  please  thee  to  comfort  and 
relieve  them,  according  to  their  several  necessities,  giving  them  patience  under 
their  sufferings  and  a  happy  issue  out  of  all  their  afflictions.  And  this  we 
beg  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — Book  of  Common  Prayer. 


223 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  12 


goatling  ot  t§e  <£io$& 

(Ot  tf)C  “But  far  be  it  from  me  to  glory,  save  in  the  cross 

of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.” — Galatians  6.  14. 

%t$$ontoi  tijcSDap:  1  Corinthians  1.  18—25. 

18  For  the  word  of  the  cross  is  to  them  that  perish  foolish¬ 
ness;  but  unto  us  who  are  saved  it  is  the  power  of  God.  19  For  it 
is  written, 

I  will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise, 

And  the  discernment  of  the  discerning  will  I  bring  to  nought. 

20  Where  is  the  wise?  where  is  the  scribe?  where  is  the  disputer 
of  this  world?  hath  not  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  the  world? 

21  For  seeing  that  in  the  wisdom  of  God  the  world  through  its 
wisdom  knew  not  God,  it  was  God’s  good  pleasure  through  the 
foolishness  of  the  preaching  to  save  them  that  believe.  22  Seeing 
that  Jews  ask  for  signs,  and  Greeks  seek  after  wisdom:  23  but  we 
preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  unto 
Gentiles  foolishness;  24  but  unto  them  that  are  called,  both  Jews 
and  Greeks,  Christ  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God. 
25  Because  the  foolishness  of  God  is  wiser  than  men;  and  the  weak¬ 
ness  of  God  is  stronger  than  men. 


“When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross 
On  which  the  Prince  of  glory  died. 

My  richest  gain  I  count  but  loss, 

And  pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride. 

“Forbid  it,  Lord,  that  I  should  boast, 

Save  in  the  death  of  Christ,  my  God; 

All  the  vain  things  that  charm  me  most, 

I  sacrifice  them  to  his  blood. 

“See  from  his  head,  his  hands,  his  feet, 

Sorrow  and  love  flow  mingled  down: 

Did  e’er  such  love  and  sorrow  meet, 

Or  thorns  compose  so  rich  a  crown? 

“Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 

That  were  a  present  far  too  small: 

Love  S3  amazing,  so  divine. 

Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all.” 

— Isaac  Watts. 


Ptagft  fot  Soap:  “  O  God,  we  thank  thee  for  the  cross  of  Christ.  In 
that  cross  we  shall  glory  forever.  And  while  we  cannot  understand  it,  and 
while  we  can  frame  no  theory  that  will  satisfy  ourselves,  and  while  it  seems 
a  hardship  to  us  to  take  up  thy  cross,  may  we  nevertheless  realize  that  in 
some  fashion  out  of  the  burning  life  there  comes  the  light  of  life,  and  out  of 
our  self-sacrifice  there  comes  the  light  that  reaches  to  all  thy  children.  Be 
with  us  through  this  day  and  through  all  the  days,  and  may  the  light  of  the 
self-sacrificing  Son  of  God  become  the  light  of  our  lives.  We  ask  thee  in 
Christ’s  name.”  Amen. — Francis  J.  McConnell  (b.  1871). 

224 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  13 

'flTfje  l&ttfurtecton  o(  Cjjrtet 


(0£  tf)£  “I  am  the  resurrection,  and  the  life:  he  that 

believeth  on  me,  though  he  die,  yet  shall  he  live;  and  whosoever  liveth  and 
believeth  on  me  shall  never  die.” — John  11.  25,  26. 

for  Matthew  28.  1-10. 

i  Now  late  on  the  sabbath  day,  as  it  began  to  dawn  toward  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  came  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary 
to  see  the  sepulchre.  2  And  behold,  there  was  a  great  earthquake; 
for  an  angel  of  the  Lord  descended  from  heaven,  and  came  and 
rolled  away  the  stone,  and  sat  upon  it.  3  His  appearance  was  as 
lightning,  and  his  raiment  white  as  snow:  4  and  for  fear  of  him 
the  watchers  did  quake,  and  became  as  dead  men.  5  And  the  angel 
answered  and  said  unto  the  women,  Fear  not  ye;  for  I  know  that 
ye  seek  Jesus,  who  hath  been  crucified.  6  He  is  not  here;  for  he 
is  risen,  even  as  he  said.  Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay. 
7  And  go  quickly,  and  tell  his  disciples,  He  is  risen  from  the  dead; 
and  lo,  he  goeth  before  you  into  Galilee;  there  shall  ye  see  him: 
lo,  I  have  told  you.  8  And  they  departed  quickly  from  the  tomb 
with  fear  and  great  joy,  and  ran  to  bring  his  disciples  word.  9  And 
behold,  Jesus  met  them,  saying,  All  hail.  And  they  came  and  took 
hold  of  his  feet,  and  worshiped  him.  10  Then  saith  Jesus  unto 
them,  Fear  not:  go  tell  my  brethren  that  they  depart  into  Galilee, 
and  there  shall  they  see  me. 


“Christ’s  grave  was  the  birthplace  of  an  indestructible  belief  that  death  is  van¬ 
quished  and  there  is  life  eternal.  .  .  .  On  the  conviction  that  Jesus  lives  we  still  base 
those  hopes  of  citizenship  in  an  Eternal  City  which  make  our  earthly  life  worth  living 
and  tolerable.  ‘He  delivered  them  who,  through  fear  of  death,  were  all  their  lifetime 
subject  to  bondage,’  as  the  writer  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  says.  That  is  the  point; 
and  although  there  be  exceptions  to  its  sway,  wherever,  despite  all  the  weight  of  nature, 
there  is  a  stong  faith  in  the  infinite  value  of  the  soul;  wherever  death  has  lost  its  terrors; 
wherever  the  sufferings  of  the  present  are  measured  against  a  future  of  glory,  this  feeling 
of  life  is  bound  up  with  the  conviction  that  Jesus  Christ  has  passed  through  death, 
that  God  has  awakened  him  and  raised  him  to  life  and  glory.  It  is  not  by  any  specula¬ 
tive  ideas  of  philosophy,  but  by  the  vision  of  Jesus’  life  and  death  and  by  the  feeling 
of  his  imperishable  union  with  God  that  mankind,  so  far  as  it  believes  in  these  things, 
has  attained  to  that  certainty  of  eternal  life  for  which  it  was  meant,  and  which  it  dimly 
discerns — eternal  life  in  time  and  beyond  time.” — Adolph  Harnack. 


Pt (0t  tjjt  “With  thee,  O  Christ,  we  would  arise  indeed  to 

newness  of  life.  We  beseech  thee  to  make  all  things  new  to  us.  Let  the 
old  duties,  the  old  work,  the  old  burdens,  the  old  friendships  be  transfigured 
as  thou  dost  touch  them.  Let  the  resurrection  joy  lift  us  from  loneliness  and 
weakness  and  despair  to  strength  and  beauty  and  happiness.  We  would 
fain  live  the  risen  life.  Help  us  by  thy  call,  by  thy  message,  by  thy  beauty, 
by  thy  goodness,  to  be  thy  true  children,  looking  to  thee  and  serving  thee, 
until  at  last  we  see  thee  face  to  face.”  Amen. — Floyd  W.  Tomkins 
(b.  1850). 


225 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  14 

<Zlf)e  Ualue  of  JlOiSbom 


DCtfjC  fot  tl |t  SDflgJ  “I  saw  that  wisdom  excelletli  folly,  as  far  as  light 
excelleth  darkness.” — Ecclesiastes  2.  13. 

JlUSjSon  foe  tl)e  &>ag:  Proverbs  4.  1-9. 

1  Hear,  my  sons,  the  instruction  of  a  father, 

And  attend  to  know  understanding: 

2  For  I  give  you  good  doctrine; 

Forsake  ye  not  my  law. 

3  For  I  was  a  son  unto  my  father, 

Tender  and  only  beloved  in  the  sight  of  my  mother. 

4  And  he  taught  me,  and  said  unto  me: 

Let  thy  heart  retain  my  words; 

Keep  my  commandments,  and  live; 

5  Get  wisdom,  get  understanding; 

Forget  not,  neither  decline  from  the  words  of  my  mouth; 

6  Forsake  her  not,  and  she  will  preserve  thee; 

Love  her,  and  she  will  keep  thee. 

7  Wisdom  is  the  principal  thing;  therefore  get  wisdom; 

Yea,  with  all  thy  getting  get  understanding. 

8  Exalt  her,  and  she  will  promote  thee; 

She  will  bring  thee  to  honor,  when  thou  dost  embrace  her. 

9  She  will  give  to  thy  head  a  chaplet  of  grace ; 

A  crown  of  beauty  will  she  deliver  to  thee. 

“It  is  of  all  importance  that  we  should  know  that  the  Christian  life  is  a  life  of  knowl¬ 
edge,  not  of  ignorance.  It  is  a  separate,  a  higher  region  of  knowledge  than  that  to 
which  we  generally  give  the  name;  but  it  is  knowledge  still.  It  is  the  apprehension  of 
truths,  of  those  vast  truths  which  the  senses  cannot  discover,  nor  the  intellect  evolve, 
but  which  through  the  open  avenues  of  the  spirit  enter  in  and  occupy  the  life  ” — Phillips 
Brooks. 

fDt  tf)t  SDa#?  In  thee,  O  God,  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge.  Thou  art  the  Counselor.  None  teacheth  like  thee.  We 
come  unto  thee  seeking  that  wisdom  which  is  from  above.  Help  us  that 
seeking  we  shall  find ;  that  coming  unto  thee  continually  as  the  source  of 
light  and  life,  our  search  shall  be  rewarded.  O  leave  us  not  in  darkness 
and  ignorance.  May  we  hear  thy  voice  in  thy  Word,  and  in  the  daily  dealing 
of  thy  providence.  Keep  us  by  thy  Spirit,  and  impress  deeply  thy  divine  les¬ 
sons  upon  our  hearts.  Uphold  us  when  we  slip.  Restore  us  when  we  fall. 
Guide  us,  by  thy  counsel  here,  train  and  teach  us  in  thy  ways;  and  afterward, 
in  thine  own  good  time,  take  us  to  our  heavenly  home.  We  ask,  O  Lord,  the 
same  blessings  for  others.  Bestow  them  on  all  who  are  dear  to  us,'  and 
especially  on  all  about  us  and  around  us  who  are  yet  strangers  to  thee.  May 
the  day  soon  come  when  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  fill  the  earth  and 
every  knee  shall  bow  to  thee  as  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords.  In  Jesus’ 
name.  Amen. 


226 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  15 

SDtbtne  CStubance 


tot  Soap:  “I  will  instruct  thee  and  teach  thee  in  the  way 

which  thou  shalt  go : 

I  will  counsel  thee  with  mine  eye  upon  thee.” 

— Psalm  32.  8. 


3Le$$0n  for  tf )t  SDap:  Isaiah-  58.  9b-i2. 

9b  I£  thou  take  away  from  the  midst  of  thee  the  yoke,  the  put¬ 
ting  forth  of  the  finger,  and  speaking  wickedly;  10  and  if  thou  draw 
out  thy  soul  to  the  hungry,  and  satisfy  the  afflicted  soul :  then  shall 
thy  light  rise  in  darkness,  and  thine  obscurity  be  as  the  noonday; 

11  and  Jehovah  will  guide  thee  continually,  and  satisfy  thy  soul  in 
dry  places,  and  make  strong  thy  bones;  and  thou  shalt  be  like  a 
watered  garden,  and  like  a  spring  of  water,  whose  waters  fail  not. 

12  And  they  that  shall  be  of  thee  shall  build  the  old  waste  places; 
thou  shalt  raise  up  the  foundations  of  many  generations;  and  thou 
shalt  be  called  The  repairer  of  the  breach,  The  restorer  of  paths 
to  dwell  in. 


“One  there  lives  whose  guardian  eye 
Guides  our  earthly  destiny; 

One  there  lives,  who,  Lord  of  all, 

Keeps  his  children  lest  they  fall; 

Pass  we,  then,  in  love  and  praise, 

Trusting  him  through  all  our  days, 

Free  from  doubt  and  faithless  sorrow — 

God  provideth  for  the  morrow.” 

— Reginald  Heber. 


“When  I  look  back  on  those  days  I  have  no  doubt  that  Providence  guided  us,  not 
only  across  those  snowfields,  but  across  the  storm-white  sea  that  separated  Elephant 
Island  from  our  landing  place  on  South  Georgia.  *1  know  that  during  that  long  and 
racking  march  of  thirty-six  hours  over  the  unnamed  mountains  and  glaciers  of  South 
Georgia  it  seemed  to  me  often  that  we  were  four,  not  three.  .  .  .  One  feels  ‘the  dearth  of 
human  words,’  the  roughness  of  mortal  speech  in  trying  to  describe  things  intangible, 
but  a  record  of  our  journey  would  be  incomplete  without  a  reference  to  a  subject  very 
near  to  our  hearts.” — Ernest  L.  Shackleton. 


PtftgtE  (DC  “O  God,  our  Lord,  the  stay  of  all  them  that  put 

their  trust  in  thee,  wherever  thou  leadest  we  would  go,  for  thy  ways  are 
perfect  wisdom  and  love.  Even  when  we  walk  through  the  dark  valley,  thy 
light  can  shine  into  our  hearts  and  guide  us  safely  through  the  night  of 
sorrow.  Be  thou  our  Friend,  and  we  need  ask  no  more  in  heaven  or  earth, 
for  thou  art  the  comfort  of  all  who  trust  in  thee,  the  hope  and  defense  of 
all  who  hope  in  thee.  O  Lord,  we  would  be  thine;  let  us  never  fall  away 
from  thee.  We  would  accept  all  things  without  murmuring  from  thy  hand, 
for  whatever  thou  doest  is  right.  Blend  our  wills  with  thine,  and  then  we 
need  fear  no  evil  nor  death  itself,  for  all  things  must  work  together  for  our 
good.  Lord,  keep  us  in  thy  love  and  truth,  comfort  us  with  thy  light,  and 
guide  us  by  thy  Holy  Spirit,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
S.  Weiss. 


227 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  16 


<Hf)e  possible  of  jfailurt 

IPtt&C  fOV  tf)C  “I  suffer  hardship  unto  bonds,  as  a  malefactor;  but 

the  word  of  God  is  not  bound.” — 2  Timothy  2.  9. 

Ht0£»onf0ttSe2Da£:  Philippiam  1.  12-14. 

12  Now  I  would  have  you  know,  brethren,  that  the  things 
which  happened  unto  me  have  fallen  out  rather  unto  the  progress 
of  the  gospel;  13  so  that  my  bonds  became  manifest  in  Christ 
throughout  the  whole  praetorian  guard,  and  to  all  the  rest;  14  and 
that  most  of  the  brethren  in  the  Lord,  being  confident  through  my 
bonds,  are  more  abundantly  bold  to  speak  the  word  of  God  with¬ 
out  fear. 


“Be  it  good  or  ill,  be  it  what  you  will, 

It  needs  must  help  me  on  my  road; 

My  rugged  way  to  heaven,  please  God.” 

— Christina  G.  Rossetti. 


“Measure  thy  life  by  loss  instead  of  gain; 

Not  by  the  wine  drunk,  but  the  wine  poured  forth; 

For  1  ove’s  strength  standeth  in  love’s  sacrifice, 

And  whoso  suffers  most  hath  most  to  give.” 

—  The  Disciples. 


“We  learn  wisdom  from  failure  much  more  than  from  success,  often  discover  what 
will  do  by  finding  out  what  will  not  do,  and  probably  he  who  never  made  a  mistake 
never  made  a  discovery.  Horne  Tooke  used  to  say  of  his  studies  in  intellectual  philos¬ 
ophy  that  he  had  become  all  the  better  acquainted  with  the  country  through  having 
had  the  good  luck  sometimes  to  lose  his  way.” — Samuel  Smiles. 


Pta ytz  fot  tf)t  iSDap:  Our  heavenly  Father,  we  bow  before  thee  in  recog¬ 
nition  of  thy  wisdom  and  thy  grace.  Help  us  to  learn  from  our  failures. 
Our  plans  have  sometimes  failed.  Our  expectations  have  not  always  been 
realized.  We  have  had  our  disappointments  and  our  losses.  We  leave  these 
broken  things  with  thee.  Perhaps  it  was  thy  will  that  they  should  be  broken, 
because  they  were  not  thy  plans.  Our  ways  may  not  always  be  thy  ways; 
but  thy  ways  are  better  and  wiser  than  ours.  So  we  are  content  to  leave  all 
with  thee,  praying  that  even  our  failures  may  be  turned  by  thee  to  good 
account.  We  pray  for  our  home.  We  need  thy  grace  in  our  home  life. 
Purify,  we  pray  thee,  all  our  affections.  May  our  common  toils  and  cares 
and  sorrows  become  new  bonds  of  love,  binding  us  ever  more  closely  to¬ 
gether  and  unitedly,  as  a  family,  to  thee.  May  we  never  fail  in  patience, 
nor  in  unselfishness,  nor  in  thoughtfulness.  Bless  our  neighbors  and  our 
friends  and  all  with  whom  we  have  to  do.  In  Jesus’  name.  Amen. 


228 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  17 

C5od  flflltll  Mot  SDegrpatt  of 


l Vtz&t  for  t0r  2Dap:  ‘  ‘When  my  father  and  my  mother  forsake  me, 

Then  Jehovah  will  take  me  up.” 

— Psalm  27.  10. 


JLt&$0n  for  tStSDap:  Jeremiah  18.  1-6. 


1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  saying,  2 
Arise,  and  go  down  to  the  potter’s  house,  and  there  I  will  cause 
thee  to  hear  my  words.  3  Then  I  went  down  to  the  potter’s  house, 
and,  behold,  he  was  making  a  work  on  the  wheels.  4  And  when 
the  vessel  that  he  made  of  the  clay  was  marred  in  the  hand  of  the 
potter,  he  made  it  again  another  vessel,  as  seemed  good  to  the 
potter  to  make  it. 

5  Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying,  6  O  house  of 
Israel,  cannot  I  do  with  you  as  this  potter?  saith  Jehovah.  Behold, 
as  the  clay  in  the  potter’s  hand,  so  are  ye  in  my  hand,  O  house  of 
Israel. 


“Lord,  many  times  I  am  aweary  quite 
\  Of  mine  own  self,  my  sin,  my  vanity; 

Yet  be  not  thou,  or  I  am  lost  outright, 

Weary  of  me.” 

— Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 


“And  judge  none  lost!  but  wait  and  see, 

With  hopeful  pity,  not  disdain. 

The  depth  of  the  abyss  may  be 
The  measure  of  the  height  of  pain 
And  love  and  glory  that  may  raise 
This  soul  to  God  in  after-days.” 

— Adelaide  A.  Procter. 

“There  is  one  Priest  who  never  passes  by  on  the  other  side.  The  longer  I  live  the 
more  clearly  I  see  how  all  souls  are  in  his  hand — the  mean  and  the  great.  Fallen  on  the 
earth  in  their  baseness,  or  fading  as  the  mist  of  morning  in  their  goodness,  still  in  the 
hand  of  the  potter  as  the  clay,  and  in  the  temple  of  their  Master  as  the  cloud.” — John 
Ruskin. 


f0£  tl)£  O  God,  our  Father,  thou  art  the  Potter  and  we  are 

the  clay  in  thy  hand.  Teach  us  thy  will  for  this  day  and  for  all  the  days  of 
our  lives.  We  would  make  it  our  purpose  to  live  out  the  plan  of  life  which 
thou  hast  for  us  in  thy  thought.  Reveal  unto  us  thy  will  as  we  go  on  from 
day  to  day.  Let  us  not  mar  our  lives  by  taking  them  out  of  thy  hands.  Show 
us  thy  way  and  make  us  willing  to  follow  it,  even  if  it  is  not  the  way  we  of 
ourselves  would  choose.  If  by  any  chance  thy  will  and  purpose  for  us  is 
thwarted,  and  the  vessel  is  marred  in  the  hands  of  the  Potter,  thou  wilt  not 
despair  of  uSj  O  Lord.  Thou  wilt  make  it  again  another  vessel  as  it  seemeth 
good  to  thee  to  make  it.  Give  us  grace  to  submit  ourselves  patiently  unto 
thee,  and  in  all  things  trustfully  to  say,  “Thy  will  be  done.”  Hear  us  in 
these  our  petitions  and  receive  our  grateful  praise  for  all  thy  goodness  and 
mercy,  for  thy  name’s  sake.  Amen. 


229 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  18 


Ht)t  importance  of  JFattfi 

H?Ct£re  fot  tf)t  jSDagi  “And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  If  thou  canst!  All 
things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth.” — Mark  9.  23. 

2tCS>£0lt  fot  tf)C  £Dap:  Matthew  17.  14-16,  18-20. 

14  And  when  they  were  come  to  the  multitude,  there  came  to 
him  a  man,  kneeling  to  him,  and  saying,  15  Lord,  have  mercy  on 
my  son:  for  he  is  epileptic,  and  suffereth  grievously;  for  ofttimes 
he  falleth  into  the  fire,  and  ofttimes  into  the  water.  16  And  I 
brought  him  to  thy  disciples,  and  they  could  not  cure  him.  18  And 
Jesus  rebuked  him;  and  the  demon  went  out  of  him:  and  the  boy 
was  cured  from  that  hour. 

19  Then  came  the  disciples  to  Jesus  apart,  and  said,  Why  could 
not  we  cast  it  out?  20  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Because  of  your 
little  faith:  for  verily  I  say  unto  you,  If  ye  have  faith  as  a  grain 
of  mustard  seed,  ye  shall  say  unto  this  mountain,  Remove  hence 
to  yonder  place;  and  it  shall  remove;  and  nothing  shall  be  impos¬ 
sible  unto  you. 


“Oh!  world,  thou  chooseth  not  the  better  part, 

It  is  not  wisdom  to  be  only  wise, 

And  on  the  inner  vision  close  the  eyes; 

But  it  is  wisdom  to  believe  the  heart. 

Columbus  found  a  world  and  had  no  chart 
Save  one  that  Faith  deciphered  in  the  skies; 

To  trust  the  soul’s  invincible  surmise 
Was  all  his  science  and  his  only  art. 

Our  knowledge  is  a  torch  of  smoky  pine 
That  lights  the  pathway  but  one  step  ahead 
Across  the  void  of  mystery  and  dread. 

Bid,  then,  the  tender  light  of  faith  to  shine 
By  which  alone  the  mortal  heart  is  led 
Into  the  thinking  of  the  thought  Divine.’ 

— Santayana. 

“When  Admiral  Dupont  explained  to  Admiral  Farragut  the  reason  for  his  failure 
to  enter  Charleston  Harbor  with  his  fleet  of  ironclads,  Farragut  is  reported  to  have 
said,  “Ah,  Dupont,  there  is  one  more  reason.’’ 

“What  is  it,  sir?”  asked  Dupont. 

“You  did  not  believe  you  could  do  it.” 

prayer  fot  tfjt  2Day:  Our  heavenly  Father  we  ask  thee  to  increase  our 
faith.  We  confess  that  we  have  not  the  strong  and  abiding  faith  that  we 
should  have  had.  Look  upon  us  in  mercy  and  though  the  faith  now  in  our 
hearts  be  but  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed  within  us,  may  we  exercise  it,  so 
that  it  shall  grow,  and  wax  strong,  and  shelter  many  under  its  branches. 

Teach  us,  O  Holy  Spirit,  our  own  unworthiness  and  imperfection.  We 
are  still  unprofitable  servants,  even  when  we  have  done  our  very  best.  Thy 
work  unfinished  meets  us  in  the  eventide  at  home  as  well  as  in  the  fields 
at  noonday.  May  we  never  grow  weary  of  our  work,  though  sometimes  we 
may  be  weary  in  the  doing  of  it.  And  keep  each  of  us  faithful  to  his  own 
duty  through  all  the  hours  of  this  day,  for  thine  own  name’s  sake.  Amen. 

230 


FAITH  AND  HOPE  AUGUST  19 

Unconquerable  #aitb 


PersSe  £ot  tf>e  2Dag:  “  Our  God  whom  we  serve  is  able  to  deliver  us  from 
the  burning  fiery  furnace;  and  he  will  deliver  us.” — Daniel  3.  17. 

3Lt&#0lX  tot  t1)Z  SDftg;  Romans  8.  18,  19,  31,  32,  35-39. 

18  For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time  are 
not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed 
to  us-ward.  19  For  the  earnest  expectation  of  the  creation  waiteth 
for  the  revealing  of  the  sons  of  God. 

31  What  then  shall  we  say  to  these  things?  If  God  is  for  us, 
who  is  against  us?  32  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  deliv¬ 
ered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  also  with  him  freely  give 
us  all  things?.  .  .  35  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of 

Christ?  shall  tribulation,  or  anguish,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or 
nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword?  36  Even  as  it  is  written, 

For  thy  sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day  long; 

We  were  accounted  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter. 

37  Nay,  in  all  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  him 
that  loved  us.  38  For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor 
life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  things  present,  nor  things 
to  come,  nor  powers,  39  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  crea¬ 
ture,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 

“One  who  never  turned  his  back,  but  marched  breast  forward, 

Never  doubted  clouds  would  break, 

Never  dreamed,  though  right  were  worsted,  wrong  would  triumph, 

Held  we  fall  to  rise,  are  baffled  to  fight  better, 

Sleep  to  wake”  — Robert  Browning . 

“Some  men  live  near  to  God,  as  my  right  arm 
Is  near  to  me,  and  thus  they  walk  about 
Mailed  in  full  proof  of  faith,  and  bear  a  charm 
That  mocks  at  fear,  and  bars  the  door  on  doubt, 

And  dares  the  impossible.”  — Anonymous. 

ptaget  tot  tfje  2Dag:  “  How  great  are  the  mercies,  O  Lord  our  God,  which 
thou  hast  prepared  for  all  that  put  their  trust  in  thee.  .  .  .  Thou  hast 

all  blessings  that  are  needed  and  standest  ready  to  be  all  things  to  all,  and 
in  all.  And  yet,  with  bread  enough  and  to  spare,  with  raiment  abundant, 
and  with  all  medicine,  how  many  are  there  that  go  hungry  and  naked  and 
sick  and  destitute  of  all  things!  We  desire,  O  Lord,  that  thou  wilt,  to  all 
thine  other  mercies,  add  that  gift  by  which  we  shall  trust  in  thee — faith  that 
works  by  love,  faith  that  abides  with  us,  faith  that  transforms  material  things 
and  gives  them  to  us  in  their  spiritual  meanings;  faith  that  illumines  the 
world  by  a  light  that  never  sets,  that  shines  brighter  than  the  day,  and  that 
clears  the  night  out  of  our  experience.  This  is  the  portion  that  thou  hast  pro¬ 
vided.  for  thy  people.  We  beseech  of  thee,  grant  us  this  faith,  that  shall  give 
us  victory  over  the  world  and  over  ourselves;  that  shall  make  us  valiant  in 
all  temptation  and  bring  us  off  conquerors  and  more  than  conquerors  through 
him  that  loved  us.”  Amen. — Henry  Ward  Beecher  (1813— 1887)  • 

231 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  20 


GDuz  Kmmottalitg 

tot  tl)e  £Dap:  “  The  free  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  in  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord.” — Rornans  6.  23b. 

Btestfon  tor  tjje  SDap:  1  Corinthians  15*  50-57, 

50  Now  this  I  say,  brethren,  that  flesh  and  blood  cannot  in¬ 
herit  the  kingdom  of  God;  neither  doth  corruption  inherit  incor¬ 
ruption.  51  Behold,  I  tell  you  a  mystery:  We  all  shall  not  sleep, 
but  we  shall  all  be  changed,  52  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye,  at  the  last  trump:  for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the 
dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and  we  shall  be  changed.  53  For 
this  corruptible  must  put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  must 
put  on  immortality.  54  But  when  this  corruptible  shall  have  put 
on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on  immortality, 
then  shall  come  to  pass  the  saying  that  is  written,  Death  is  swal¬ 
lowed  up  in  victory.  55  O  death,  where  is  thy  victory?  O  death, 
where  is  thy  sting?  56  The  sting  of  death  is  sin;  and  the  power 
of  sin  is  the  law:  57  but  thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


“We  know  not  what  we  shall  be — only  this — 

That  we  shall  be  made  like  Him — as  he  is.” 

— John  Oxenham. 


“That  for  which  we  were  made  is  immortality;  and  our  journey  is  rough,  strait, 
sharp,  burdensome,  with  many  tears  Our  journey  is  not  to  the  grave.  I  am  not 
growing  into  old  age  to  be  blind,  and  to  be  deaf,  and  to  be  rheumatic,  and  to  shrink  a 
miserable  cripple  into  the  corner,  shaking  and  tottering,  and  forgetting  all  that  I  ever 
knew.  The  best  part  of  me  is  untouched.  1  sit  enshrined  within  the  me.  The  soul, 
th  e  reason,  the  moral  sense,  the  power  to  think,  the  power  to  will,  the  power  to  love, 
the  power  to  admire  purity  and  to  reach  out  after  it — that  is  not  touched  by  time, 
though  its  instrument  and  means  of  outer  demonstration  be  corroded  and  failing.  No 
physical  weakness  touches  the  soul.” — Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


y&Z&ytZ  (Ot  SDflgL  “Blessed  Father,  in  the  midst  of  change  and  mor¬ 
tality  we  thank  thee  for  him  through  whom  death  is  swallowed  up  in 
victory.  Deliver  us  from  the  bonds  of  earthliness  and  the  darkness  of  the 
natural  mind.  Let  the  heavenly  light  shine  on  us,  and  heavenly  beauty 
attract  us,  and  thy  Divine  Spirit  re-create  our  souls.  Believing  in  thy  eternity, 
looking  for  the  resurrection  of  life  which  is  through  Jesus  Christ,  may  we 
abound  in  thy  work  and  know  that  our  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 
Open  doors  of  usefulness  to  us,  that  our  love  may  reach  the  hearts  of  those 
that  are  in  need  of  it,  and  our  example  be  a  light  to  those  who  are  out 
of  the  way.  May  the  strength  of  sin  be  broken,  and  thy  sovereign  righteous¬ 
ness  revealed.  Prepare  men  for  the  great  day  when  the  trumpet  shall  sound, 
and  the  dead  shall  be  raised,  and  the  throne  of  judgment  shall  be  set.  Let 
the  nations  turn  to  him  who  has  come,  not  to  condemn,  but  to  save  the 
world.  And  by  his  grace  may  we  all  bear  the  image  of  the  heavenly  at 
last.  For  thy  name’s  sake,”  Amen. 


FAITH  AND  HOPE 


AUGUST  2i 


Ifeabenlp  ^ome 

l&CZ&Z  fOt  tf)t  “For  we  know  that  if  the  earthly  house  of  our 

tabernacle  be  dissolved,  we  have  a  building  from  God,  a  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal,  in  the  heavens.” — 2  Corinthians  5.  1. 

JLt$&0n  for  tjjt  2Dag:  Revelation  21.  23-27.  22.  5. 

23  And  the  city  hath  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon, 
to  shine  upon  it:  for  the  glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  lamp 
thereof  is  the  Lamb.  24  And  the  nations  shall  walk  amidst  the 
light  thereof :  and  the  kings  of  the  earth  bring  their  glory  into 
it.  25  And  the  gates  thereof  shall  in  no  wise  be  shut  by  day  (for 
there  shall  be  no  night  there) :  26  and  they  shall  bring  the  glory 
and  the  honor  of  the  nations  into  it:  27  and  there  shall  in  no  wise 
enter  into  it  anything  unclean,  or  he  that  maketh  an  abomination 
and  a  lie:  but  only  they  that  are  written  in  the  Lamb’s  book  of 
life. 

5  And  there  shall  be  night  no  more;  and  they  need  no  light  of 
lamp,  neither  light  of  sun;  for  the  Lord  God  shall  give  them  light: 
and  they  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. 

“Life  changes  all  our  thoughts  of  heaven; 

At  first  we  think  of  streets  of  gold, 

Of  gates  of  pearl  and  dazzling  light, 

Of  shining  wings  and  robes  of  white, 

And  things  all  strange  to  mortal  sight. 

But  in  the  afterward  of  years 
It  is  a  more  familiar  place; 

A  home  unhurt  by  sighs  or  tears, 

Where  waiteth  many  a  well-known  face. 

With  passing  months  it  comes  more  near. 

It  grows  more  real  day  by  day; 

Not  strange  or  cold,  but  very  dear — 

The  glad  homeland  not  far  away, 

Where  none  are  sick,  or  poor,  or  lone, 

The  place  where  we  shall  find  our  own. 

And  as  we  think  of  all  we  knew 

Who  there  have  met  to  part  no  more, 

Our  longing  hearts  desire  home  too, 

With  all  the  strife  and  trouble  o’er.” — Robert  Browning. 

lot  tfjt  2Dap:  “  O  God,  we  thank  thee  for  the  assurance  thou  hast 
given  us,  that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have 
a  building  of  God,  an  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 
Enable  us,  by  the  grace  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  to  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight, 
and  to  look,  not  at  the  things  which  are  seen  and  temporal,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  unseen  and  eternal.  Pardon  wherein  we  have  walked  unworthily 
of  the  hope  which  is  laid  up  for  us  in  heaven.  We  pray  for  the  whole  human 
race,  that  it  may  please  thee  to  make  thy  ways  known  unto  them,  and  to 
show  thy  saving  health  among  all  nations.  Turn  men  everywhere  from  dark¬ 
ness  unto  light,  that  they  may  receive  forgiveness  of  their  sins  and  inherit¬ 
ance  among  them  that  are  sanctified.  Give  ear,  we  pray  thee,  to  our  humble 
supplications,  which  we  offer  in  the  name  of  thine  only-begotten  Son,  our 
Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. 


233 


COMPASSION 


AUGUST  22 


C5oti*£i  £>pntpatf)£  for  CJilbten 


®tz$t  fot  tt\c  SDay: 


“But  thou,  O  Lord,  art  a  God  merciful  and  gracious, 
Slow  to  anger,  and  abundant  in  loving-kindness 
and  truth.” 

— Psalm  86.  15. 


Heston  for  tf\t  HDap:  Psalm  145-  3,  4,  7~ 9* 

3  Great  is  Jehovah,  and  greatly  to  be  praised; 

And  his  greatness  is  unsearchable. 

4  One  generation  shall  laud  thy  works  to  another, 
And  shall  declare  thy  mighty  acts. 


7  They  shall  utter  the  memory  of  thy  great  goodness, 
And  shall  sing  of  thy  righteousness. 

8  Jehovah  is  gracious,  and  merciful; 

Slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  loving-kindness. 

9  Jehovah  is  good  to  all; 

And  his  tender  mercies  are  over  all  his  works. 


“What  can  it  mean?  Is  it  aught  to  Him 
That  the  nights  are  long  and  the  days  are  dim? 

Can  he  be  touched  by  the  griefs  I  bear, 

Which  sadden  the  heart  and  whiten  the  hair? 
Around  his  throne  are  eternal  calms, 

And  strong  glad  music  of  happy  psalms, 

And  bliss  unruffled  by  any  strife; 

How  can  he  care  for  my  little  life? 

“When  shadows  hang  o’er  me  the  whole  day  long, 
And  my  spirit  is  bowed  with  shame  and  wrong; 
When  I  am  not  good  and  the  deeper  shade 
Of  conscious  sin  makes  my  heart  afraid, 

And  the  busy  world  has  too  much  to  do 
To  stay  in  its  course  to  help  me  through, 

And  I  long  for  a  Saviour — can  it  be 
That  the  God  of  the  universe  cares  for  me?” 


(Ot  tfjt  “Our  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  thy  loving  com¬ 

passion  and  thy  sympathy  for  thy  children.  Give  us,  we  pray  thee,  thy  help 
and  blessing  in  our  sorrows,  our  faintness,  our  failure  and  sin.  Thou  knowest 
that  we  cannot  bear  our  burdens  alone.  We  are  only  little  children,  and 
the  world  sometimes  seems  dark  to  us,  and  our  path  very  hard  if  we  are 
alone.  But  we  are  thy  little  children,  and  so  we  know  we  can  come  to  our 
Father,  to  ask  thee  to  help  us,  and  enliven  us,  and  strengthen  us,  and  give 
us  hope.  We  are  not  ashamed  of  our  tears,  for  our  Lord  has  wept  with 
us.  We  do  not  ask  thee  to  take  away  our  sorrow,  for  he  was  made  perfect 
through  suffering;  but  we  do  ask  thee  to  be  with  us  as  thou  wert  with  him, 
our  Father,  close  to  thy  little  ones,  even  as  he  has  promised  us.”  Amen. 


234 


COMPASSION 


AUGUST  23 

Spmpatlig  Mlttl)  ^tljersf 


UrrsJc  tot  tf)c  2Dag:  “  Bear  ye  one  another’s  burdens,  and  so  fulfill  the 
law  of  Christ.” — Galatians  6.  2. 

fDt  tl)t  1  Tliessalonians  3.  12;  4.  9,  10;  5.  14-22. 

12  And  the  Lord  make  you  to  increase  and  abound  in  love  one 
toward  another,  and  toward  all  men,  even  as  we  also  do  toward 
you. 

4.  9  But  concerning  love  of  the  brethren  ye  have  no  need  that 
one  write  unto  you:  for  ye  yourselves  are  taught  of  God  to  love 
one  another;  10  for  indeed  ye  do  it  toward  all  the  brethren  that 
are  in  all  Macedonia.  But  we  exhort  you,  brethren,  that  ye  abound 
more  and  more. 

5.  14  And  we  exhort  you,  brethren,  admonish  the  disorderly,  en¬ 
courage  the  faint-hearted,  support  the  weak,  be  long-suffering 
toward  all.  15  See  that  none  render  unto  anyone  evil  for  evil;  but 
always  follow  after  that  which  is  good,  one  toward  another,  and 
toward  all.  16  Rejoice  always;  17  pray  without  ceasing;  18  in 
everything  give  thanks:  for  this  is  the  will  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus 
to  you-ward.  19  Quench  not  the  Spirit;  20  despise  not  prophesy- 
ings;  21  prove  all  things;  hold  fast  that  which  is  good;  22  abstain 
from  every  form  of  evil. 


‘Love  one  another  in  spite  of  your  differences,  in  spite  of  your  faults.  Love  one 
another,  and  make  the  best  of  one  another,  as  he  loved  us,  who,  for  the  sake  of  saving 
what  was  good  in  the  human  soul,  forgot,  forgave,  put  out  of  sight  what  was  bad — who 
saw  and  loved  what  was  good  even  in  the  publican  Zacchaeus,  even  in  the  penitent  Mag¬ 
dalen,  even  in  the  expiring  malefactor,  even  in  the  heretical  Samaritan,  even  in  the 
Pharisee  Nicodemus,  even  in  the  heathen  soldier,  even  in  the  outcast  Canaanite.  It  is 
very  easy  to  fix  our  attention  only  on  the  weak  points  of  those  around  us,  to  magnify 
them,  to  irritate  them,  to  aggravate  them;  and,  by  so  doing,  we  can  make  the  burden 
of  life  unendurable,  and  can  destroy  our  own  and  others’  happiness  and  usefulness  wher¬ 
ever  we  go.  But  this  was  not  the  love  wherewith  Christ  loved  us;  this  is  not  the  new 
love  wherewith  we  are  to  love  one  another. — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 


ptaget  for  t&e  2Dajn  “  O  Father,  dispose  us  to  a  sincere  sympathy  with  all 
men,  not  only  to  see  extraordinary  excellence  with  joy,  but  to  take  pleasure 
in  the  humblest  improvements  of  our  fellow  creatures,  in  the  beginnings  of 
everlasting  life  wdthin  them.  Incline  us  to  respect  the  feelings  of  others,  so 
that  we  may  never  wound,  nor  tempt,  nor  depress  a  human  being.  May  we 
understand  the  sublime  heights  of  benevolence  to  which  we  are  called  by 
the  gospel,  and  aim  at  perfection  in  all  our  social  relations.  .  .  .  May 
we  learn  to  lose  ourselves  in  disinterested  services  from  generous  ardor,  and 
to  delight  in  imitating  thee,  and  in  promoting  the  great  ends  of  thy  providence, 
and  the  blessedness  of  creation.”  Amen. — William  Ellery  Channing  (1780— 
1842). 


235 


COMPASSION  AUGUST  24 

ot 

(?££#£  (Ot  tf)t  3Dil#J  “He  judged  the  cause  of  the  poor  and  needy;  then 
it  was  well.  Was  not  this  to  know  me?  saith  Jehovah.’’ — Jeremiah  22.  16. 

Heston  (ot  tjjeSDap:  Isaiah  10.  1—3;  J ere?niah  22.  3,  5. 

1  Woe  unto  them  that  decree  unrighteous  decrees,  and  to  the 
writers  that  write  perverseness:  2  to  turn  aside  the  needy  from 
justice,  and  to  rob  the  poor  of  my  people  of  their  right,  that  widows 
may  be  their  spoil,  and  that  they  may  make  the  fatherless  their  prey! 
3  And  what  will  ye  do  in  the  day  of  visitation,  and  in  the  deso¬ 
lation  which  shall  come  from  far?  to  whom  will  ye  flee  for  help? 
and  where  will  ye  leave  your  glory? 

22.  3  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Execute  ye  justice  and  righteousness, 
and  deliver  him  that  is  robbed  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor: 
and  do  no  wrong,  do  no  violence,  to  the  sojourner,  the  fatherless, 
nor  the  widow;  neither  shed  innocent  blood  in  this  place.  5  But 
if  ye  will  not  hear  these  words,  I  swear  by  myself,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  this  house  shall  become  a  desolation. 

“The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained: 

It  droppeth  as  the  gentle  rain  from  heaven 
Upon  the  place  beneath!  It  is  twice  blessed — 

It  blesseth  him  that  gives  and  him  that  takes.” 

— William  Shakespeare . 

“Let  thy  love  our  pattern  be; 

Let  thy  mercy  teach  one  brother 
To  forgive  and  love  another; 

That  copying  thy  mercy  here 
Thy  goodness  may  hereafter  rear 
Our  souls  unto  thy  glory  when 
Our  dust  shall  cease  to  be  with  men.” 

Ptapet  (ot  tljz  SDap:  “  Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven,  we  thank  thee  for 
thy  providence  which  cares  for  the  grass  in  the  fields  and  adorns  every  little 
flower  that  fringes  the  hedgerows  of  life.  Thou  art  not  hard  to  find,  nor 
far  to  seek,  but  art  with  every  living  soul  of  man.  We  ask  thy  blessing  on 
all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  We  remember  the  poor  and  needy  in  our 
prayers.  Yea,  Lord,  our  prayer  goes  up  before  thee  asking  that  thou  wilt 
defend  the  rights  of  men  which  thou  didst  give  them  at  their  birth  but  which 
the  oppressor  has  so  fraudulently  and  forcibly  rent  away.  O  Lord,  we  are 
all  sinners  before  thee,  but  we  remember  those  who  with  unashamed  counte¬ 
nance  tread  down  thy  law.  Father,  we  pray  thee,  that  thou  wilt  pity  those 
who  have  shown  no  pity,  and  wilt  love  those  who  to  their  brothers  show 
only  hate,  treading  them  with  bloody  hoofs  into  the  ground.  O  Lord,  thy 
charity  never  faileth.  Touch  the  hearts  of  men  with  humanity,  that  they 
may  learn  justice  and  to  love  their  brothers.  Make  us  nobler  and  braver 
and  holier.  In  our  daily  living  teach  us  to  be  honest,  to  respect  the  integrity 
of  our  own  souls,  and  never  waver,  turned  this  side  by  fear  of  men  and  that 
side  by  the  lust  for  their  praise  and  their  admiration.  Teach  us  to  love  all 
men.  So  may  thy  kingdom  come  and  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven.”  Amen. — Theodore  Parker  (1810— 1860). 

236 


COMPASSION 


AUGUST  25 

W&t  at  Comtott 


Wtz&t  tot  tjje  2Da#:  “  Blessed  be  .  God  .  .  .  who  comfort- 

eth  us  in  all  our  affliction,  that  we  may  be  able  to  comfort  them  that  are 
in  any  affliction,  through  the  comfort  wherewith  we  ourselves  are  com¬ 
forted  of  God.” — 2  Corinthians  1.  3,  4. 

2W£on  (or  tf)e  $Dap:  Isaiah  61.  1—4,  10,  11. 

1  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  upon  me;  because  Jehovah 
hath  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  unto  the  meek;  he  hath 
sent  me  to  bind  up  the  brokenhearted,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the 
captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  are  bound; 
2  to  proclaim  the  year  of  Jehovah’s  favor,  and  the  day  of  vengeance 
of  our  God;  to  comfort  all  that  mourn;  3  to  appoint  unto  them  that 
mourn  in  Zion,  to  give  unto  them  a  garland  for  ashes,  the  oil  of 
joy  for  mourning,  the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness; 
that  they  may  be  called  trees  of  righteousness,  the  planting  of 
Jehovah,  that  he  may  be  glorified. 

4  And  they  shall  build  the  old  wastes,  they  shall  raise  up  the 
former  desolations,  and  they  shall  repair  the  waste  cities,  the  deso¬ 
lations  of  many  generations. 

10  I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  Jehovah,  my  soul  shall  be  joyful 
in  my  God;  for  he  hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments  of  salvation, 
he  hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness,  as  a  bridegroom 
decketh  himself  with  a  garland,  and  as  a  bride  adorneth  herself 
with  her  jewels.  11  For  as  the  earth  bringeth  forth  its  bud,  and  as 
the  garden  causeth  the  things  that  are  sown  in  it  to  spring  forth; 
so  the  Lord  Jehovah  will  cause  righteousness  and  praise  to  spring 
forth  before  all  the  nations. 

“I  want  to  give  the  oil  of  joy  for  tears, 

The  faith  to  conquer  crowding  doubts  and  fears; 

Beauty  for  ashes  may  I  give  alway: 

I’m  sure  I  shall  not  pass  again  this  way. 

“I  want  to  give  to  others  hope  and  faith; 

I  want  to  do  all  that  the  Master  saith; 

I  want  to  live  aright  from  day  to  day: 

I’m  sure  I  shall  not  pass  again  this  way.” 

prapft  fot  tfje  SDag:  “  O  thou  loving  and  tender  Father  in  heaven,  we 
confess  before  thee,  in  sorrow,  how  hard  and  unsympathetic  are  our  hearts; 
how  often  we  have  sinned  against  our  neighbors  by  want  of  compassion  and 
tenderness;  how  often  we  have  felt  no  true  pity  for  their  trials  and  sorrows, 
and  have  neglected  to  comfort,  help,  and  visit  them.  O  Father,  forgive  this 
our  sin,  and  lay  it  not  to  our  charge.  Give  us  grace  ever  to  alleviate  the 
crosses  and  difficulties  of  those  around  us,  and  never  to  add  to  them;  teach 
us  to  be  consolers  in  sorrow,  to  take  thought  for  the  stranger,  the  widow,  and 
the  orphan ;  let  our  charity  show  itself  not  in  words  only,  but  in  deed  and 
truth.  For  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  thy  Son,  who  loved  us  and  gave  himself 
for  us.”  Amen. — Johann  Arndt  (1555—1621). 

237 


COMPASSION 


AUGUST  26 


Social  Ofllrongtf  anti  3fn/u0tfce 

(0t  tl)C  2Da^:  “What  mean  ye  that  ye  crush  my  people,  and  grind 
the  face  of  the  poor?  saith  the  Lord,  Jehovah  of  hosts.” — Isaiah  3.  15. 

%e$$on  fat  tfjeSDap:  Isaiah  10.  1—4. 

1  Woe  unto  them  that  decree  unrighteous  decrees,  and  to  the 
writers  that  write  perverseness;  2  to  turn  aside  the  needy  from 
justice,  and  to  rob  the  poor  of  my  people  of  their  right,  that  widows 
may  be  their  spoil,  and  that  they  make  the  fatherless  their  prey! 
3  And  what  will  ye  do  in  the  day  of  visitation,  and  in  the  desola¬ 
tion  which  shall  come  from  far?  to  whom  will  ye  flee  for  help? 
and  where  will  ye  leave  your  glory?  4  They  shall  only  bow  down 
under  the  prisoners,  and  shall  fall  under  the  slain.  For  all  this 
his  anger  is  not  turned  away,  but  his  hand  is  stretched  out  still. 


“Have  ye  founded  your  thrones  and  altars,  then, 

On  the  bodies  and  souls  of  living  men? 

And  think  ye  that  building  shall  endure, 

Which  shelters  the  noble  and  crushes  the  poor? 

With  gates  of  silver  and  bars  of  gold 

Ye  have  fenced  my  sheep  from  their  Father’s  fold; 

I  have  heard  the  dropping  of  their  tears 
In  heaven  these  eighteen  hundred  years.” 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 


“  ‘What  injustice  is  there,’  you  ask,  ‘in  my  diligently  preserving  my  own  as  long  as 
I  do  not  invade  the  property  of  others?’  Shameless  saying!  My  own\  What  is  it? 
From  what  sacred  place  hast  thou  brought  it  into  the  world?  Thou  who  hast  received 
the  gifts  of  God,  thinkest  thou  that  thou  committest  no  injustice  in  keeping  for  thyself 
alone  what  would  be  the  means  of  life  to  many?  It  is  the  bread  of  the  hungry  that 
thou  keepest!  It  is  the  clothing  of  the  naked  thou  lockest  up;  the  money  that  thou 
buriest  is  the  redemption  of  the  wretched.” — Ambrose,  Bishop  of  Milan. 

Ptagrt  for  tfje  Soag:  “  O  God,  our  Father,  our  souls  are  made  sick  by 
the  sight  of  hunger  and  want  and  nakedness;  of  little  children  bearing  on 
their  bent  backs  the  burden  of  the  world’s  work;  of  motherhood  drawn 
under  the  grinding  wheels  of  modern  industry;  and  of  overburdened  man¬ 
hood,  with  empty  hands,  stumbling  and  falling.  Help  us  to  understand  that 
it  is  not  thy  purpose  to  do  away  with  life’s  struggle,  but  that  thou  desirest 
us  to  make  the  conditions  of  that  struggle  just  and  its  results  fair.  Enable 
us  to  know  that  we  may  bring  this  to  pass  only  through  love  and  sympathy 
and  understanding;  only  as  we  realize  that  all  are  alike  thy  children — the 
rich  and  the  poor,  the  strong  and  the  weak,  the  fortunate  and  the  unfortunate. 
And  so,  our  Father,  give  us  an  ever  truer  sense  of  human  brotherhood;  that 
with  patience  and  steadfastness  we  may  do  our  part  in  ending  the  injustice 
that  is  in  the  land,  so  that  all  may  rejoice  in  the  fruits  of  their  toil  and  be 
glad  in  thy  sunshine.  Keep  us  in  hope  and  courage  amid  the  vastness  of  the 
undertaking  and  the  slowness  of  the  progress,  and  sustain  us  with  the  knowl¬ 
edge  that  our  times  are  in  thy  hand.”  Amen. — Helen  Ring  Robinson. 


238 


COMPASSION  AUGUST  27 

Care  (or  tfje  poor  anti  jRee&g 


Per $t  (Or  tfie  2Da^:  “Jehovah,  who  is  like  unto  thee, 

Who  deliverest  the  poor  from  him  that  is  too 
strong  for  him, 

Yea,  the  poor  and  the  needy  from  him  that  rob- 
beth  him.” 

— Psalm  35.  10. 


£e££on(ortf)e&)a£:  Isaiah  25.  1-4. 


1  O  Jehovah,  thou  art  my  God;  I  will  exalt  thee,  I  will  praise 
thy  name;  for  thou  hast  done  wonderful  things,  even  counsels  of 
old,  in  faithfulness  and  truth.  2  For  thou  hast  made  of  a  city  a 
heap;  of  a  fortified  city  a  ruin,  a  palace  of  strangers  to  be  no  city; 
it  shall  never  be  built.  3  Therefore  shall  a  strong  people  glorify 
thee,  a  city  of  terrible  nations  shall  fear  thee.  4  For  thou  hast  been 
a  stronghold  to  the  poor,  a  stronghold  to  the  needy  in  his  distress, 
a  refuge  from  the  storm,  a  shade  from  the  heat,  when  the  blast 
of  the  terrible  ones  is  as  a  storm  against  the  wall. 


“When  wilt  thou  save  the  people? 

O  God  of  mercy,  when? 

Not  kings  and  lords,  but  nations! 

Not  thrones  and  crowns,  but  men! 

Flowers  of  thy  heart,  0  God,  are  they; 

Let  them  not  pass,  like  weeds  away — 

God  save  the  people! 

“When  wilt  thou  save  the  people? 

O  God  of  mercy,  when? 

The  people,  Lord,  the  people, 

Not  thrones  and  crowns,  but  men! 

God  save  the  people;  thine  they  are, 

Thy  children,  as  thy  angels  fair; 

Save  them  from  bondage  and  despair! 

God  save  the  people!”  — Ebenezer  Elliott. 

pta yet  foi  tfie  j&Dag:  O  God,  our  Father,  we  bow  before  thee  in  grateful 
praise.  We  thank  thee  that  thou  causeth  thy  sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and 
the  good,  and  sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  the  unjust.  Thy  mercy  reacheth 
into  the  heavens,  and  thy  faithfulness  to  all  generations.  Especially  do  we 
thank  thee  that  ever  thou  art  a  stronghold  to  the  poor  and  to  the  needy  in 
his  distress.  We  too  have  experienced  thy  love.  Thou  hast  done  for  us 
great  things,  and  holy  is  thy  name.  Thou  hast  satisfied  us  out  of  thy  good¬ 
ness,  and  hast  enriched  us  with  uncounted  blessings.  Our  table  has  been 
spread  by  thy  hand.  The  raiment  that  clothes  us  and  the  dwelling  that 
shelters  us  are  of  thy  giving.  The  faith  which  enables  us  to  grasp  thy 
promises  and  the  grace  which  guides  and  keeps  us  in  the  narrow  way  are  of 
thy  giving.  We  magnify  thee,  O  Lord,  for  these  and  all  thy  mercies.  Help 
us,  heavenly  Father,  to  consecrate  ourselves,  body,  soul,  and  spirit,  more 
lovingly  and  obediently  than  ever  to  thy  service  and  to  the  service  of  those 
who  are  in  distress  and  need.  Help  us  to  deny  ourselves  and  bear  the  cross 
of  Christ.  In  his  name  we  ask  it.  Amen. 

239 


COMPASSION 


AUGUST  28 


to  Cfjil&jjoob 

(Ot  tf)t  “Suffer  the  little  children,  and  forbid  them  not,  to 

come  unto  me:  for  to  such  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven.” — Matthew 
19.  14. 

!£t$»£on  fottfjt  &>ap:  Matthew  18.  1-7,  10. 

i  In  that  hour  came  the  disciples  unto  Jesus,  saying,  Who  then 
is  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven?  2  And  he  called  to  him  a 
little  child,  and  set  him  in  the  midst  of  them,  3  and  said,  Verily  I 
say  unto  you,  Except  ye  turn,  and  become  as  little  children,  ye  shall 
in  no  wise  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  4  Whosoever  there¬ 
fore  shall  humble  himself  as  this  little  child,  the  same  is  the  great¬ 
est  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven..  5  And  whoso  shall  receive  one  such 
little  child  in  my  name  receiveth  me:  6  but  whoso  shall  cause  one 
of  these  little  ones  that  believe  on  me  to  stumble,  it  is  profitable 
for  him  that  a  great  millstone  should  be  hanged  about  his  neck,  and 
that  he  should  be  sunk  in  the  depth  of  the  sea. 

7  Woe  unto  the  world  because  of  occasions  of  stumbling!  for 
it  must  needs  be  that  the  occasions  come ;  but  woe  to  that  man 
through  whom  the  occasion  cometh!  10  See  that  ye  despise  not 
one  of  these  little  ones:  for  I  say  unto  you,  that  in  heaven  their 
angels  do  always  behold  the  face  of  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven. 

“Thou  Healer,  Teacher,  Comforter  divine! 

I  could  not  love  thee  with  such  tender  love 
Hadst  thou  not  friendship  for  the  children  shown. 

O  Jesus,  this,  thy  title,  would  I  bear — 

The  sweetest,  dearest  name  e’er  given  thee — 

As  Friend  of  children  would  I  too  be  known.”  — Anonymous. 

“He  who  helps  a  child  helps  humanity  with  a  distinctness,  with  an  immediateness, 
which  no  other  help  given  to  human  creatures  in  any  other  stage  of  their  human  life 
can  possibly  give  again.”- — Phillips  Brooks. 

y&Z&ytZ  fOt  tf)Z  SDa#;  “O  thou  great  Father  of  the  weak,  lay  thy  hand 
tenderly  on  all  little  children  on  earth  and  bless  them.  Bless  our  own 
children  who  are  the  life  of  our  life  and  who  have  become  the  heart  of 
our  heart.  .  .  .  But  bless  with  a  threefold  blessing  the  young  lives 

whose  slender  shoulders  are  already  bowed  beneath  the  yoke  of  toil,  and  whose 
glad  growth  is  being  stunted  forever.  Let  not  their  little  bodies  be  utterly 
sapped,  and  their  minds  given  over  to  stupidity  and  the  vices  of  an  empty 
soul.  We  have  all  jointly  deserved  the  millstone  of  thy  wrath  for  making 
these  little  ones  to  stumble  and  fall.  Grant  all  employers  of  labor  stout 
hearts  to  refuse  enrichment  at  such  a  price.  Grant  to  all  the  citizens  and 
officers  of  states  which  now  permit  this  wrong  the  grace  of  holy  anger.  Help 
us  to  realize  that  every  child  in  our  nation  is  in  very  truth  our  child,  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  our  great  family.  By  the  holy  Child  that  rested  in  Mary’s  bosom,  by 
the  memories  of  our  own  childhood  joys  and  sorrows,  by  the  sacred  possi¬ 
bilities  that  slumber  in  every  child,  we  beseech  thee  to  save  us  from  killing 
the  sweetness  of  young  life  by  the  greed  of  gain,”  Amen. — Walter  Rauschen- 
busch  (1861-1918). 


240 


COMRADESHIP  AUGUST  29 

prayer  &&  jfellototfStp  emits  C5oti 


$rr#e  tOC  tj)t  SDa^t  “My  soul  waiteth  for  the  Lord 

More  than  watchmen  wait  for  the  morning; 
Yea ,  more  than  watchmen  for  the  morning.” 

— Psalm  130.  6. 

Eeggon  tor  t&e  2Day:  Psalm  5. 1-3, 7,  n,  12. 

1  Give  ear  to  my  words,  O  Jehovah, 

Consider  my  meditation. 

2  Hearken  unto  the  voice  of  my  cry,  my  King,  and  my  God; 
For  unto  thee  do  I  pray. 

3  O  Jehovah,  in  the  morning  shalt  thou  hear  my  voice; 

In  the  morning  will  I  order  my  prayer  unto  thee,  and  will 
keep  watch. 

7  But  as  for  me,  in  the  abundance  of  thy  loving-kindness  will 
I  come  into  thy  house : 

In  thy  fear  will  I  worship  toward  thy  holy  temple. 

11  But  let  all  those  that  take  refuge  in  thee  rejoice, 

Let  them  ever  shout  for  joy,  because  thou  defendest  them: 
Let  them  also  that  love  thy  name  be  joyful  in  thee. 

12  For  thou  wilt  bless  the  righteous; 

O  Jehovah,  thou  wilt  compass  him  with  favor  as  with  a 
shield. 


“Prayer  involves  far  more  than  we  ordinarily  think — a  certain  necessary  relation 
between  the  soul  and  God.  The  condition  of  prayer  is  personal;  it  looks  to  character. 
How  this  rebukes  our  ordinary  slipshod  notions  of  what  it  is  to  prayl  God’s  mercy-seat 
is  no  mere  stall  set  by  the  vulgar  roadside,  where  every  careless  passer-by  may  put  an 
easy  hand  out  to  snatch  any  glittering  blessing  that  catches  his  eye.  It  stands  in  the 
holiest  of  holies.  We  can  come  to  it  only  through  veils  and  by  altars  of  purification. 
To  enter  into  it,  we  must  enter  into  God.” — Phillips  Brooks. 

“Say  what  is  prayer,  when  it  is  prayer  indeed? 

The  mighty  utterance  of  a  mighty  need, 

The  man  is  praying,  who  doth  press  with  might 
Out  of  his  darkness,  into  God’s  own  light.” 

Pr ayer  (0t  t &Dayt  “We  rejoice  that  in  all  time  men  have  found  a 
refuge  in  thee,  and  that  prayer  is  the  voice  of  love,  the  voice  of  pleading, 
and  the  voice  of  thanksgiving.  Our  souls  overflow  toward  thee  like  a  cup 
when  full;  nor  can  we  forbear,  nor  shall  we  search  to  see  if  our  prayers  have 
been  registered,  or  whether  of  the  things  asked  we  have  received  much,  or 
more,  or  anything.  That  we  have  had  permission  to  feel  ourselves  in  thy 
presence,  to  take  upon  ourselves  something  of  the  light  of  thy  countenance, 
to  have  a  consciousness  that  thy  thoughts  are  upon  us,  to  experience  the  inspi¬ 
ration  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  any  measure — this  is  an  answer  to  prayer  tran¬ 
scending  all  things  that  we  can  think  of.  We  are  glad  that  we  can  glorify 
thee,  that  we  can  rejoice  thee,  that  it  does  make  a  difference  to  thee  what 
we  do,  and  that  thou  dost  enfold  us  in  a  consciousness  of  thy  sympathy  with 
us,  of  how  much  thou  art  to  us,  and  of  what  we  are  to  thee.”  Amen. — 
Henry  Ward  Beecher  (1813-1887). 

241 


COMRADESHIP  AUGUST  30 

Communion  dlitfi  (Bob 

(or  (Jt  “I  will  meet  with  thee,  and  I  will  commune  with 

thee.” — Exodus  25.  22. 

JtrtftfontortljeSDag:  Psalm  105.  1-8. 

*  1  Oh  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah,  call  upon  his  name; 

Make  known  among  the  peoples  his  doings. 

2  Sing  unto  him,  sing  praises  unto  him; 

Talk  ye  of  all  his  marvelous  works. 

3  Glory  ye  in  his  holy  name: 

Let  the  heart  of  them  rejoice  that  seek  Jehovah. 

4  Seek  ye  Jehovah  and  his  strength; 

Seek  his, face  evermore. 

5  Remember  his  marvelous  works  that  he  hath  done, 

His  wonders,  and  the  judgments  of  his  mouth, 

6  O  ye  seed  of  Abraham  his  servant, 

Ye  children  of  Jacob,  his  chosen  ones. 

7  He  is  Jehovah  our  God: 

His  judgments  are  in  all  the  earth. 

8  He  hath  remembered  his  covenant  forever, 

The  word  which  he  commanded  to  a  thousand  generations. 


“Getting  quiet  does  one  good — it  is  impossible  to  hear  God’s  voice  in  a  whirl  of 
visits — you  must  be  more  or  less  in  the  ‘desert’  to  use  the  scales  of  the  sanctuary,  to  see 
and  weigh  the  true  value  of  things  and  sayings.” — “ Chinese ”  Gordon. 


“Make  use  even  of  those  times  in  the  day  when  you  are  only  partially  occupied 
with  external  things  to  occupy  yourself  inwardly  with  God;  for  instance,  while  doing 
needlework,  maintain  a  close  sense  of  the  presence  of  God.  The  thought  of  his  presence 
is  less  easily  preserved  in  conversation,  but  even  then  you  can  frequently  recall  a  general 
consciousness  of  it,  overruling  your  every  word.” — Fenelon. 


“We  say  that  when  we  are  uttering  words  of  prayer  we  are  in  communion  with 
him.  But  when  and  where  are  we  out  of  communion  with  him?  .  .  .  Oh,  our  Father,  we 
are  with  thee  when  we  know  it  not!  All  our  springs  are  in  thee.  Make  us  clean,  make 
us  strong,  that  all  our  life  may  speak  to  thee  and  answer  back  thy  love.” — Mary  Emily 
Case. 


ptagft  for  tljr  “  O  God,  who  art,  and  wast,  and  art  to  come,  before 

whose  face  the  generations  rise  and  pass  away;  age  after  age  the  living  seek 
thee,  and  find  that  of  thy  faithfulness  there  is  no  end.  Our  fathers  in  their 
pilgrimage  walked  by  thy  guidance,  and  rested  on  thy  compassion;  still  to 
their  children  be  thou  the  cloud  by  day,  the  fire  by  night.  In  our  manifold 
temptations,  thou  alone  knowest  and  art  ever  nigh ;  in  sorrow  thy  pity 
revives  the  fainting  soul;  in  our  prosperity  and  ease,  it  is  thy  Spirit  only  that 
can  wean  us  from  our  pride  and  keep  us  low.  O  thou  sole  source  of  peace 
and  righteousness!  take  now  the  veil  from  every  heart;  and  join  us  in  one 
communion  with  thy  prophets  and  saints  who  have  trusted  in  thee  and  were 
not  ashamed.  Not  of  our  worthiness,  but  of  thy  tender  mercy,  hear  our 
prayer.”  Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805-1900). 

242 


COMRADESHIP  AUGUST  31 

(Bot 1  in  £Dut 

IPtt&t  fOt  tj)t  “And  hereby  we  know  that  he  abideth  in  us,  by 

the  Spirit  which  he  gave  us.” — 1  John  3.  24. 

%t$&on  (ot  tSeSDap:  I  John  4.  12—16. 

12  No  man  hath  beheld  God  at  any  time:  if  we  love  one  another, 
God  abideth  in  us,  and  his  love  is  perfected  in  us:  13  hereby  we 
know  that  we  abide  in  him  and  he  in  us,  because  he  hath  given  us 
of  his  Spirit.  14  And  we  have  beheld  and  bear  witness  that  the 
Father  hath  sent  the  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of  the  world.  15  Who¬ 
soever  shall  coniess  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God,  God  abideth  in 
him,  and  he  in  God.  16  And  we  know  and  have  believed  the  love 
which  God  hath  in  us.  God  is  love ;  and  he  that  abideth  in  love 
abideth  in  God,  and  God  abideth  in  him. 


“I  sought  thee  at  a  distance,  and  did  not  know  that  thou  wast  near, 
abroad,  and  behold!  thou  wast  within  me.” — Augustine. 


I  sought  thee 


God  leads  us  by  inwardly  enlightening  us,  by  communicating  to  us  his  own  per¬ 
ceptions  of  right  and  wrong,  and  by  creating  within  us  such  a  disposition  that  we  nat¬ 
urally  choose  what  is  good.  External  guidance  might  at  first  thought  seem  most 
desirable,  but  reflection  will  teach  us  that  a  God  within  is  the  real  illumination. 


“This  pearl  of  eternity  is  the  church  or  temple  of  God  within  thee,  the  consecrated 
place  of  divine  worship,  where  alone  thou  canst  worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
When  once  thou  art  well  grounded  in  this  inward  worship  thou  wilt  have  learned  to  live 
unto  God  above  time  and  place.  For  every  day  will  be  Sunday  to  thee,  and,  wherever 
thou  goest,  thou  wilt  have  a  priest,  a  church,  and  an  altar  along  with  thee.  For  when  God 
has  all  that  he  should  have  of  thy  heart,  when  thou  art  wholly  given  up  to  the  obedience 
of  the  light  and  Spirit  of  God  within  thee,  to  will  only  in  his  will,  to  love  only  in  his  love, 
to  be  wise  only  in  his  wisdom,  then  it  is  that  everything  thou  doest  is  as  a  song  of  praise, 
and  the  common  business  of  thy  life  is  a  conforming  to  God’s  will  on  earth  as  angels  do 
in  heaven.” — William  Law . 


Ptapet  (ot  t SDap:  ‘  ‘Almighty  God,  enter  thou  our  hearts  and  so  fill 
us  with  thy  love,  that,  forsaking  all  evil  desires,  we  may  embrace  thee,  our 
only  good.  Show  unto  us,  for  thy  mercies’  sake,  O  Lord  and  God,  what 
thou  art  unto  us.  Say  unto  our  souls,  T  am  thy  salvation.’  So  speak  that 
we  may  hear.  Our  hearts  are  before  thee;  open  thou  our  ears;  let  us  hasten 
after  thy  voice  and  take  hold  on  thee.  Hide  not  thy  face  from  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  O  Lord.  Enlarge  thou  the  narrowness  of  our  souls,  that  thou  mayest 
enter  in.  Repair  the  ruinous  mansions,  that  thou  mayest  dwell  there.  Hear 
us,  O  heavenly  Father,  for  the  sake  of  thine  only  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord, 
who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  thee  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  now  and  forever.” 
Amen. — Augustine  (354-430). 


243 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  i 


W&t  Waning  anti  MlottJ  ot  Eabot 

C?EEg>t  Cot  t!)C  SDa^t  “And  let  the  favor  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon 

us ; 

And  establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon 
us; 

Yea,  the  work  of  our  hands  establish  thou  it.” 

— Psalm  90.  17. 

JLt$&0n  Cot  tf)t  E>a#:  Proverbs  10.  16;  Ecclesiastes  5.  10-12,  18. 

16  The  labor  of  the  righteous  tendeth  to  life; 

The  increase  of  the  wicked  to  sin. 

5.  10  He  that  loveth  silver  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  silver;  nor 
he  that  loveth  abundance  with  increase:  this  also  is  vanity.  11 
When  goods  increase,  they  are  increased  that  eat  them:  and  what 
advantage  is  there  to  the  owner  thereof,  save  the  beholding  of  them 
with  his  eyes?  12  The  sleep  of  a  laboring  man  is  sweet,  whether 
he  eat  little  or  much:  but  the  fullness  of  the  rich  will  not  suffer 
him  to  sleep. 

18  Behold  that  which  I  have  seen  to  be  good  and  to  be  comely 
is  for  one  to  eat  and  to  drink,  and  to  enjoy  good  in  all  his  labor, 
wherein  he  laboreth  under  the  sun,  all  the  days  of  his  life  which 
God  hath  given  him:  for  this  is  his  portion. 


“The  beauty  of  life  is  to  be  found 
Not  in  luxury,  but  in  simplicity, 

In  sweat  of  the  hand,  sweat  of  the  brow,  and  sweat  of  the  heart; 

In  pride  of  work,  without  greed  of  gold; 

In  thoughts  that  rise  above  the  needs  of  self; 

In  loving-kindness  to  one’s  fellow  men. 

To  be  honest  in  handicraft,  loyal  in  friendship,  strong  in  suffering,  and  rich  in 
laughter, 

Is  to  be  a  good  comrade  in  the  workshops  of  life, 

And  to  such  faithful  servants 

God  will  pay  fair  wages  of  peace  and  joy.” 


PE fl£EE  COE  tf)E  SDa#;  “O  Lord,  who  by  thy  holy  apostle  hast  taught  us  to 
do  all  things  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  and  to  thy  glory;  give  thy 
blessing,  we  pray  thee,  to  our  work,  that  we  may  do  it  in  faith,  and  heartily, 
as  to  the  Lord,  and  not  unto  men.  All  our  powers  of  body  and  mind  are 
thine,  and  we  would  fain  devote  them  to  thy  service.  Sanctify  them  and 
the  work  in  which  we  are  engaged ;  let  us  not  be  slothful,  but  fervent  in 
spirit,  and  do  thou,  O  Lord,  so  bless  our  efforts  that  they  may  bring  forth  in 
us  the  fruit  of  true  wisdom.  Strengthen  the  faculties  of  our  minds,  and 
dispose  us  to  exert  them  for  thy  glory  and  for  the  furtherance  of  thy  King¬ 
dom.  Save  us  from  all  pride  and  vanity  and  reliance  upon  our  own  power 
or  wisdom.  Teach  us  to  seek  after  truth,  and  enable  us  to  gain  it;  while 
we  know  earthly  things,  may  we  know  thee,  and  be  known  by  thee  through 
and  in  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  may  be  thine  in  body  and  spirit  in  all 
our  work  and  undertakings,  through  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — Thomas  Arnold 
(1795-1842). 


244 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  2 


jfellotogjtp  CHlitS  ( Bob  m  JLabot 

fOt  tj)t  “My  father  worketh  even  until  now,  and  I  work.” 

— John  5.  17. 

ileggon  tot  tljeSDap:  John  14.  10-14. 

10  Believest  thou  not  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father 
in  me?  the  words  that  I  say  unto  you  I  speak  not  from  myself: 
but  the  Father  abiding  in  me  doeth  his  works,  n  Believe  me 
that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  me:  or  else  believe  me 
for  the  very  works’  sake.  12  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that 
believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also;  and  greater 
works  than  these  shall  he  do;  because  I  go  unto  the  Father.  13 
And  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  I  do,  that  the 
Father  may  be  glorified  in  the  Son.  14  If  ye  shall  ask  anything 
in  my  name,  that  will  I  do. 


“Let  us  begin  from  this  moment  to  acknowledge  Him  in  all  our  ways,  and  do  every¬ 
thing,  whatsoever  we  do,  as  service  to  Him  and  for  His  glory,  depending  upon  Him  alone 
for  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  sweetness,  and  patience,  and  everything  else  that  is 
necessary  for  the  right  accomplishing  of  all  of  our  living.” — Hannah  Whitall  Smith. 

‘They  who  tread  the  path  of  labor  follow  where  my  feet  have  trod; 

They  who  work  without  complaining  do  the  holy  will  of  God. 

Wh  ere  the  many  toil  together,  there  am  I  among  my  own; 

Where  the  tired  workman  sleepeth,  there  am  I  with  him  alone. 

I,  the  Peace  that  passeth  knowledge,  dwell  a  id  the  daily  strife; 

I,  the  Bread  of  heaven,  am  broken  in  the  sacrament  of  life.” 

tot  2Da^>  O  God,  our  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the  assur¬ 

ance  that  thou  who  art  the  maker  of  all  things  worketh  even  until  now.  It 
is  our  lot  to  labor.  Help  us,  O  God,  ever  to  realize  that  in  our  labor  we 
enter  into  fellowship  with  thee.  Grant  unto  us  that  in  all  our  tasks  we  may- 
have  the  consciousness  that  thou  art  with  us  and  that  we  are  with  thee. 

Whatsoever  our  hands  find  to  do  may  we  do  it  as  unto  God  and  not  unto 

man.  Suffer  not  our  toil  to  be  stained  by  dishonesty  or  degraded  through 
the  selfish  pursuits  or  use  of  gain.  Assist  us  to  seek  in  all  our  labor  the  wel¬ 
fare  of  others,  the  service  of  our  fellow  men,  and  thy  glory  who  hast  set  us 
in  our  several  callings.  We  pray  for  our  fellow  workers;  for  every  lawful 
industry  and  useful  art;  for  those  who  till  the  soil,  for  those  who  delve  in 
mines;  for  those  who  labor  in  factory  and  mill,  for  those  whose  labor  is  of 
the  brain.  May  all  workers  everywhere  share  with  us  the  service  of  fellow¬ 
ship  with  thee.  This  blessing  we  ask  in  the  name  of  the  Carpenter  of  Naza¬ 
reth,  even  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


/ 


245 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  3 

€W&t  mm 


Cot  tf)t  “Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  If  a  man  love 

me,  he  will  keep  my  word :  and  my  Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will 
come  unto  him,  and  make  our  abode  with  him.” — John  14.  23. 

Jit ££on  tot  tlje  £Da#:  Revelation  3.  20-22;  Galatians  2.  20. 

20  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock:  if  any  man  hear 
my  voice  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup 

with  him,  and  he  with  me.  21  He  that  overcometh,  I  will  give 

to  him  to  sit  down  with  me  in  my  throne,  as  I  also  overcame,  and 
sat  down  with  my  Father  in  his  throne.  22  He  that  hath  an  ear, 

let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  to  the  churches. 

2.  20  I  have  been  crucified  with  Christ;  and  it  is  no  longer  I 
that  live,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me :  and  that  life  which  I  now  live  in 
the  flesh  I  live  in  faith,  the  faith  which  is  in  the  Son  of  God,  who 
loved  me,  and  gave  himself  up  for  me. 

“The  day  is  long,  and  the  day  is  hard; 

We  are  tired  of  the  march  and  of  keeping  guard; 

Tired  of  the  sense  of  a  fight  to  be  won, 

Of  days  to  live  through,  and  of  work  to  be  done; 

Tired  of  ourselves  and  of  being  alone: 

Yet  all  the  while,  did  we  only  see, 

W 1 e  walk  in  the  Lord’s  own  company. 

We  fight,  but  ’tis  he  who  nerves  our  arm; 

He  turns  the  arrows  that  else  might  harm, 

And  out  of  the  storm  he  brings  a  calm; 

And  the  work  that  we  count  so  hard  to  do, 

He  makes  it  easy,  for  he  works,  too: 

And  the  days  that  seem  long  to  live  are  his — • 

A  bit  of  his  bright  eternities — 

And  close  to  our  need  his  helping  is.” 

— Susan  Coolidge. 


^zaytz  for  tfie  Soap:  Blessed  Lord,  we  claim  thy  gracious  promise.  We 
love  thee.  Fulfill  in  us  thy  word ,  “If  a  man  love  me,  .  .  .  my  Father 

will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our  abode  with  him.” 
Aid  us,  by  thy  Spirit,  that  we  may  keep  thy  word  and  that  ever  we  may 
love  thee  more  and  more,  that  on  our  part  the  condition  being  fulfilled  thou 
mayest  do  as  thou  hast  said.  May  our  home  be  sanctified  and  blessed  by 
thy  presence  as  our  divine  Guest.  May  we  show  by  our  lives  that  we  daily 
live  in  association  with  thee.  May  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentle¬ 
ness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness,  and  temperance  bear  flower  and  fruit  in 
our  lives.  Bless  us  in  our  daily  work;  yea,  do  thou  work  in  us  and  through 
us,  that  thy  kingdom  may  come,  thy  will  be  done.  For  thy  name’s  sake. 
Amen. 


246 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  4 

ifdlo&tffjip  CtfUitf)  CSrigt 


Dtt $z  for  tfje  “  God  is  faithful,  through  whom  ye  were  called 

into  the  fellowship  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.” — 1  Corinthians  1.  9. 

%Lt$$0n  f  0t  t Se  SDap;  Romans  8.  35-39. 

35  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  shall  tribu¬ 
lation,  or  anguish,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril, 
or  sword?  36  Even  as  it  is  written, 

For  thy  sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day  long; 

We  were  accounted  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter. 

37  Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through 
him  that  loved  us.  38  For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor 
life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  things  present,  nor  things 
to  come,  nor  powers,  39  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  crea¬ 
ture,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 


“Ten  minutes  spent  in  Christ’s  society  every  day;  aye,  two  minutes,  if  it  be  face  to 
face  and  heart  to  heart,  will  make  the  whole  life  different.” — Henry  Drummond. 

“In  the  twentieth  century  the  Lord  still  calls  for  men  whose  master  passion  it  shall 
be  to  introduce  into  every  department  of  life  the  ethical  ideals  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  who 
will  bring  to  all  men  the  glad  word  of  the  gospel,  that  this  master  passion  can  be  kept 
strong  and  efficient  by  association  with  the  personality  of  the  living  Lord,  Jesus  Christ.” 
— E ,  I.  Boszuorth. 

“Happy  who  walks  with  Him!  whom,  what  he  finds 
Of  flavor  or  of  scent,  in  fruit  or  flower, 

Or  what  he  views  of  beautiful  or  grand 
In  nature,  from  the  broad  majestic  oak 
To  the  green  blade  that  twinkles  in  the  sun, 

Prompts  with  remembrance  of  a  present  God.” 

— William  Cozvper. 


“The  most  important  part  of  the  training  of  the  Twelve  was  one  which  was  perhaps 
at  the  time  little  noticed,  though  it  was  producing  splendid  results — the  silent  and  con¬ 
stant  influence  of  His  character  on  them.  It  was  this  which  made  them  the  men  they 
became.” — James  Stalker. 


Pt&gtt  f0t  tijt  2D&#:  We  return  unto  thee  hearty  thanks,  O  Lord  our 
God,  for  thy  great  goodness  to  us.  Mercifully  assist  us  in  every  duty  each 
one  of  us  has  to  do.  O  thou  blessed  Christ,  we  seek  thy  presence!  Do  thou 
make  thyself  real  unto  us  this  day.  Be  our  companion  every  day,  from  morn¬ 
ing  to  night,  and  night  to  morning,  that  our  fellowship  with  thee  may  be 
continuous  and  that  we  may  know  the  blessedness  and  power  that  come 
through  personal  association  with  thee.  Thus  may  we  live  to  honor  thee 
in  character  and  in  service  and  to  have  some  part  in  the  coming  of  thy  king¬ 
dom  in  the  earth.  For  thy  name’s  sake.  Amen. 


247 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  5 

jFrtentijErtnp  CSttet 


fOt  f f)C  SDa^:  “Even  as  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  I  also  have 
loved  you;  abide  ye  in  my  love/’ — John  15.  9. 

for  tf)c  &>ap;  John  15.  n-17. 

11  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  my  joy  may  be 
in  you,  and  that  your  joy  may  be  made  full.  12  This  is  my  com¬ 
mandment,  that  ye  love  one  another,  even  as  I  have  loved  you. 
13  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his 
life  for  his  friends.  14  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  the  things 
which  I  command  you.  15  No  longer  do  I  call  you  servants;  for  the 
servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth :  but  I  have  called  you 
friends;  for  all  things  that  I  heard  from  my  Father  I  have  made 
known  unto  you.  16  Ye  did  not  choose  me,  but  I  chose  you,  and 
appointed  you,  that  ye  should  go  and  bear  fruit,  and  that  your 
fruit  should  abide:  that  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  of  the  Father  in 
my  name,  he  may  give  it  you.  17  These  things  I  command  you,  that 
ye  may  love  one  another. 

“Love  him  ?nd  keep  him  for  thy  friend,  who,  when  all  go  away,  will  not  forsake 
thee,  nor  suffer  thee  to  perish  in  the  end.” — Thomas  a  Kempis. 

“I’ve  found  a  Friend;  0  such  a  Friend! 

He  loved  me  ere  I  knew  him; 

He  drew  me  with  the  cords  of  love, 

And  thus  he  bound  me  to  him; 

And  round  my  heart  still  closely  twine 
Those  ties  which  naught  can  sever, 

For  I  am  his,  and  he  is  mine, 

Forever  and  forever.”  — James  F.  Small. 

“We  offer  Christ  the  submission  of  our  hearts,  and  the  obedience  of  our  lives;  and 
he  offers  us  his  abiding  Presence.  We  take  him  as  our  Master,  and  he  takes  us  as  his 
friends.  Our  Lord  takes  us  up  into  a  relationship  of  love  with  himself,  and  we  go  out 
into  life  inspired  with  his  spirit  to  work  his  work.  It  begins  with  the  self-surrender  of 
love;  and  love,  not  fear  or  favor,  becomes  the  motive.  To  feel  thus  the  touch  of  God 
on  our  lives  changes  the  world.  Its  fruits  are  joy  and  peace,  and  confidence  that  all  the 
events  of  life  are  suffused,  not  only  with  meaning,  but  with  a  meaning  of  love.  The 
soul  that  is  bound  by  this  personal  attachment  to  Jesus  has  a  life  in  the  eternal,  which 
transfigures  the  life  in  time  with  a  great  joy.”- — Hugh  Black. 

fOt  “We  adore  thee,  O  Christ,  Son  of  the  living  God. 

.  .  .  Enter  thou  within  the  chamber  of  our  hearts  and  say  unto  us,  ‘Peace 

be  unto  you.’  Give  us  the  grace  to  see  thee,  Blessed  Saviour,  the  eyes  of 
our  understanding  being  enlightened,  that  we  may  know  thee  walking  by  our 
side,  in  this  our  earthly  pilgrimage.  Come  unto  us,  O  our  Lord,  and  dwell 
within  us.  Abide  with  us  through  our  night  of  weeping.  Make  thyself 
known  to  us  in  the  breaking  of  bread.  Teach  us,  O  blessed  Lord  God 
most  high,  to  look  and  see  thee  beyond  this  dark,  tempestuous  sea,  standing 
on  the  everlasting  shore  of  peace ;  and  suffer  us  to  come  unto  thee  through 
the  waters.  Give  us  grace,  O  Lord  our  God,  to  leave  all  for  thee,  that  we  may 
be  made  like  unto  thee,  that  we  may  follow  thee,  O  thou  Blessed  Lamb  of 
God,  whithersoever  thou  goest.’’  Amen. — Treasury  of  Devotion ,  1872. 

248 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  6 


<Ht)c  Sacrament  ot  2&nmntbtance 

Ptftgte  (0t  tf)£  SDajB  “For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  the 
cup,  ye  proclaim  the  Lord’s  death  till  he  come.” — i  Corinthians  II.  26. 

Heston  (or  tljei&Dag:  Matthew  26.  26-30. 

26  And  as  they  were  eating,  Jesus  took  bread,  and  blessed,  and 
brake  it;  and  he  gave  to  the  disciples,  and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is 
my  body.  27  And  he  took  a  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and  gave  to 
them,  saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it;  28  for  this  is  my  blood  of  the 
covenant,  which  is  poured  out  for  many  unto  remission  of  sins.  29 
But  I  say  unto  you,  I  shall  not  drink  henceforth  of  this  fruit  of 
the  vine,  until  that  day  when  I  drink  it  new  with  you  in  my 
Father’s  kingdom. 

30  And  when  they  had  sung  a  hymn,  they  went  out  into  the 
mount  of  Olives. 


“According  to  thy  gracious  word, 

In  meek  humility, 

This  will  I  do,  my  dying  Lord — 

I  will  remember  thee. 

“Thy  body,  broken  for  my  sake, 

My  bread  from  heaven  shall  be; 

Thy  cup  of  blessing  will  I  take, 

And  thus  remember  thee. 

“When  to  the  cross  I  turn  mine  eyes 
And  rest  on  Calvary, 

0  Lamb  of  God,  my  sacrifice, 

I  must  remember  thee. 

“And  when  these  failing  lips  grow  dumb, 

And  mind  and  memory  flee, 

When  thou  shalt  in  thy  kingdom  come, 

Jesus,  remember  me.” 

— James  Montgomery. 


(Ot  tj)t  “O  Saviour  of  men,  thou  didst  die  for  our  redemp¬ 

tion.  But  even  in  the  shadow  of  death  thy  victory  began.  We  praise  thee 
for  the  Last  Supper  with  thy  disciples,  with  its  pledge  of  the  kingdom  of 
God  to  come.  We  bless  thee  that  still  we  may  eat  and  drink  by  faith,  and 
feed  on  thee  in  our  hearts  with  thanksgiving.  Impart  thy  very  self  to  all  our 
spirits,  O  Eternal  Love,  who  art  alive  forevermore.  Give  us  grace,  O  Lord, 
this  day  to  live  as  those  who  constantly  remember  thee.  In  our  daily  work 
or  pleasure,  in  common  duty  or  in  special  trial,  keep  thy  cross  and  passion 
present  before  our  eyes;  let  thy  redeeming  love  burn  in  our  hearts.  Divide 
thy  cup  of  salvation  among  all  our  friends  and  kinsfolk.  Let  not  one  refuse 
to  taste  and  see  how  gracious  thou  art.  We  ask  it  for  thy  mercy’s  sake.”  Amen. 


249 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  7 

<&btt^ze$mt  Cfjrtet 


fOt  tf)t  “Lo,  I  am  with  you  always.” — Matthew  28.  20. 

2Le^^on(ottf)e2Dag:  John  14.  18-23. 

18  I  will  not  leave  you  desolate;  I  come  unto  you.  19  Yet  a 
little  while,  and  the  world  beholdeth  me  no  more;  but  ye  behold 
me;  because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also.  20  In  that  day  ye  shall  know 
that  I  am  in  my  Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  21  He  that 
hath  my  commandments,  and  keepeth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me : 
and  he  that  loveth  me  shall  be  loved  of  my  Father,  and  I  will  love 
him,  and  will  manifest  myself  unto  him.  22  Judas  (not  Iscariot) 
saith  unto  him,  Lord,  what  is  come  to  pass  that  thou  wilt  manifest 
thyself  unto  us,  and  not  unto  the  world?  23  Jesus  answered  and 
said  unto  him,  If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my  word:  and  my 
Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our 
abode  with  him. 


“Wide  fields  of  corn  along  the  valleys  spread; 

The  rain  and  dews  mature  the  swelling  vine; 

I  see  the  Lord  is  multiplying  bread; 

I  see  him  turning  water  into  wine; 

I  see  him  working  all  the  works  divine 
He  wrought  when  Salemward  his  steps  were  led; 

The  self-same  miracles  around  him  shine; 

He  feeds  the  famished;  he  revives  the  dead; 

He  pours  the  flood  of  light  on  darkened  eyes; 

He  chases  tears,  diseases,  fiends  away; 

His  throne  is  raised  upon  these  orient  skies; 

His  footstool  is  the  pave  whereon  we  pray. 

Ah,  tell  me  not  of  Christ  in  Paradise, 

For  he  is  all  around  us  here  to-day.” 

— John  Charles  Earle. 


ptajet  toe  tjje  &>ag;  O  God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we 
come  to  thee  in  the  name  of  thy  dear  Son  and  ever-present  Lord  and  Master. 
We  pray  that  we  may  have  the  consciousness  that  he  is  with  us  to-day;  we 
would  spend  all  the  hours  of  the  day  in  his  presence.  In  the  midst  of  our 
busy  cares  we  too  often  forget  him.  Pardon  us  this  sin  and  all  the  sins  to 
which  it  has  given  rise.  In  thy  tender  compassion  suffer  us  once  again  to 
seek  our  Lord  and  Saviour.  Help  us  to  see  his  mighty  works  in  our  midst, 
and  may  they  testify  to  us  of  his  present  power.  If  dark  doubts  invade  our 
spirits,  open  our  eyes  to  the  assurance  of  faith  in  the  triumphs  of  Christ  among 
men  of  our  own  day.  When  we  read  the  Scriptures,  may  they  speak  to  us 
of  Christ.  When  we  assemble  ourselves  together  with  our  brethren  in  his 
name  may  he  come  and  stand  in  our  midst,  and  may  we  hear  his  gracious 
greeting,  “Peace  be  with  you.”  We  pray  for  this  and  all  other  needful 
blessings  on  ourselves  and  all  mankind,  in  the  Name  that  is  above  every  name. 
Amen. 


250 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  8 


<H\)t  ^legging  ot  CSttettan  JLobt  anti  JFmnti^Stp 

mi$t  Cot  tfje  2Dag:  “  We  give  thanks  to  God  always  for  you  all,  making 
mention  of  you  in  our  prayers;  remembering  without  ceasing  your  work  of 
faith  and  labor  of  love  and  patience  of  hope  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.” 
— i  Thessalonians  i.  2,  3. 

2lt£00n  Cot  tf)e  2Dag;  Philippians  4.  10,  II,  14,  16-19. 

10  But  I  rejoice  in  the  Lord  greatly,  that  now  at  length  ye 
have  revived  your  thought  for  me;  wherein  ye  did  indeed  take 
thought,  but  ye  lacked  opportunity,  n  Not  that  I  speak  in  re¬ 
spect  of  want:  for  I  have  learned,  in  whatsoever  state  I  am,  therein 
to  be  content.  14  Howbeit  ye  did  well  that  ye  had  fellowship  with 
my  affliction.  16  For  even  in  Thessalonica  ye  sent  once  and  again 
unto  my  need.  17  Not  that  I  seek  for  the  gift;  but  I  seek  for  the 
fruit  that  increaseth  to  your  account.  18  But  I  have  all  things, 
and  abound:  I  am  filled,  having  received  from  Epaphroditus  the 
things  that  came  from  you,  an  odor  of  a  sweet  smell,  a  sacrifice 
acceptable,  well-pleasing  to  God.  19  And  my  God  shall  supply 
every  need  of  yours  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  in  Christ 
Jesus. 

“Oh,  brother  man,  fold  to  thy  heart  thy  brother. 

Where  pity  dwells  the  peace  of  God  is  there. 

To  worship  rightly  is  to  love  each  other, 

Each  smile  a  hymn,  each  kindly  deed  a  prayer.” 

— John  G.  Whittier. 

“Love  is  the  first  comforter,  and  where  love  and  truth  speak,  the  love  will  be  felt 
where  the  truth  is  never  perceived.  Love,  indeed,  is  the  highest  of  all  truth;  and  the 
pressure  of  a  hand,  a  kiss,  the  caress  of  a  child,  will  do  more  to  save,  sometimes,  than 
the  wisest  argument,  even  rightly  understood.  Love  alone  is  wisdom,  love  alone  is 
power;  and  where  love  seems  to  fail  it  is  where  self  has  stepped  between  and  dulled  the 
potency  of  its  rays.” — George  Macdonald. 

(Ot  tjf  “Almighty  and  most  merciful  Father,  we  bless  thee 

for  thy  good  gifts  to  us  thy  children.  We  thank  thee  for  the  power  to  bless 
and  gladden  one  another  by  the  warmth  of  love  and  the  tenderness  of  friend¬ 
ship.  For  the  love  given  to  us  in  our  youth ;  for  the  tender  care  taken  of  us 
in  our  feeble  days;  for  a  father’s  watchfulness  and  a  mother’s  care,  we  bless 
thee.  Let  not  this  wealth  of  love  be  wasted  on  us;  as  we  have  received,  so 
may  we  give.  O  Lord !  who  didst  see  that  it  was  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone,  we  bless  thee  for  the  love  between  man  and  woman.  May  we  know 
it  in  all  its  sweetness;  may  we  learn  from  love  the  lesson  of  self-denial;  of 
preferring  another  to  ourselves;  of  cheerful  patience;  and  of  toil  made  sweet 
by  the  charities  of  home.  May  our  love  be  pure,  strong,  tender  and  true. 
Bless  our  friends.  May  they  all  be  friends  of  God.  May  they  be  true  to  us 
and  we  to  them.  Give  us  the  friendship  that  knows  no  change ;  the  love  that 
loves  even  unto  the  end.  May  all  earthly  love  help  us  to  rise  to  true  feeling  of 
thy  wondrous  love;  and  may  thy  love  lift  up  our  earthly  love  into  pureness, 
brightness,  and  eternal  life.  O  thou  who  art  the  Lord  of  love,  be  thou  our 
love’s  beginning;  be  thou  our  love’s  great  end;  and  make  us  to  love  thee  above 
all,  that  thou  mayest  be  all  in  all.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

251 


COMRADESHIP  SEPTEMBER  9 

t  flUmtg  ot  trt  C&rtet 

(0t  tty  “Neither  for  these  only  do  I  pray,  but  for  them 

also  that  believe  on  me  through  their  word;  that  they  may  all  be  one.” — 
John  17.  20,  21. 

JLt$$Otl  fot  t!)e  Ephesians  4.  1-7,  H-13. 

i  I  therefore,  the  prisoner  in  the  Lord,  beseech  you  to  walk 
worthily  of  the  calling  wherewith  ye  were  called,  2  with  all  lowli¬ 
ness  and  meekness,  with  longsuffering,  forbearing  one  another  in 
love;  3  giving  diligence  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond 
of  peace.  4  There  is  one  body,  and  one  Spirit,  even  as  also  ye  were 
called  in  one  hope  of  your  calling;  5  one  Lord,  one  faith,  one  bap¬ 
tism,  6  one  God  and  Father  of  all,  who  is  over  all,  and  through  all, 
and  in  all.  7  But  unto  each  one  of  us  was  the  grace  given  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ.  11  And  he  gave  some 
to  be  apostles;  and  some,  prophets;  and  some,  evangelists;  and 
some,  pastors  and  teachers;  12  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  unto 
the  work  of  ministering,  unto  the  building  up  of  the  body  of 
Christ:  13  till  we  all  attain  unto  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  fullgrown  man,  unto  the 
measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fullness  of  Christ. 


“I  will  not  quarrel  with  you  about  any  opinion.  Only  see  that  your  heart  be 
right  toward  God,  that  you  know  and  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  that  you  love  your 
neighbor,  and  walk  as  your  Master  walked;  and  I  desire  no  more.  I  am  sick  of  opinions: 
I  am  weary  to  bear  them.  My  soul  loathes  this  frothy  food.  Give  me  solid  and  sub¬ 
stantial  religion;  give  me  an  humble,  gentle  lover  of  God  and  man;  a  man  full  of  mercy 
and  good  fruits,  without  partiality  and  without  hypocrisy;  a  man  laying  himself  out  in 
the  work  of  faith,  the  patience  of  hope,  the  labor  of  love.  Let  my  soul  be  with  these 
Christians  wheresoever  they  are,  and  whatsoever  opinion  they  are  of.  ‘Whosoever’ 
thus  ‘doeth  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister, 
and  mother.’  ” — John  Wesley . 

“Would  to  God  that  all  the  party  names,  and  unscriptural  phrases  and  forms, 
which  have  divided  the  Christian  world,  were  forgot;  and  that  we  might  all  agree  to  sit 
down  together,  as  humble,  loving  disciples,  at  the  feet  of  our  common  Master,  to  hear 
his  word,  to  imbibe  his  Spirit,  and  to  transcribe  his  life  in  our  own!” — John  Wesley. 


y&Z&ytZ  fOt  t|)t  “O  God  of  peace,  who  through  thy  Son  Jesus 

Christ  didst  set  forth  one  faith  for  the  salvation  of  mankind ;  send  thy  grace 
and  heavenly  blessing  upon  all  Christian  people  who  are  striving  to  draw 
nearer  to  thee,  and  to  each  other,  in  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  and  in  the  bond 
of  peace.  Give  us  penitence  for  our  divisions,  wisdom  to  know  thy  truth, 
courage  to  do  thy  will,  love  which  shall  break  down  the  barriers  of  pride 
and  prejudice,  and  an  unswerving  loyalty  to  thy  Holy  Name.  Suffer  us  not 
to  shirk  from  any  endeavor,  which  is  in  accordance  with  thy  will,  for  the 
peace  and  unity  of  thy  church.  Give  us  boldness  to  seek  only  thy  glory  and 
the  advancement  of  thy  kingdom.  Unite  us  all  in  thee  as  thou,  O  Father, 
with  thy  Son  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  art  one  God,  world  without  end.”  Amen. 
— Frederick  Harris  (b.  1873). 


252 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  io 


<&ty  ^zt$tnte  ot  tty  Ifolg  fe>pmt 

(0t  tfjt  “He  shall  give  you  another  Comforter,  that  he  may 

be  with  you  forever,  even  the  Spirit  of  truth  ...  ye  know  him;  for 
he  abideth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in  you.” — John  14.  16,  17. 

Romans  8.  9-10,  12-17. 

9  But  ye  are  not  in  the  flesh  but  in  the  Spirit,  if  so  be  that 
the  Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you.  But  if  any  man  hath  not  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  his.  10  And  if  Christ  is  in  you,  the 
body  is  dead  because  of  sin;  but  the  spirit  is  life  because  of  right¬ 
eousness. 

12  So  then,  brethren,  we  are  debtors,  not  to  the  flesh,  to 
live  after  the  flesh:  13  for  if  you  live  after  the  flesh,  ye  must 
die;  but  if  by  the  Spirit  ye  put  to  death  the  deeds  of  the  body, 
ye  shall  live.  14  For  as  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
these  are  sons  of  God.  15  For  ye  received  not  the  spirit  of  bondage 
again  unto  fear;  but  ye  received  the  spirit  of  adoption,  whereby 
we  cry,  Abba,  Father.  16  The  Spirit  himself  beareth  witness  with 
our  spirit,  that  we  are  children  of  God:  17  and  if  children,  then 
heirs;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with  Christ;  if  so  be  that  we 
suffer  with  him,  that  we  may  be  also  glorified  with  him . 

“Gracious  Spirit,  dwell  with  me: 

I  myself  would  gracious  be; 

And  with  words  that  help  and  heal, 

Would  thy  life  in  mine  reveal; 

And  with  actions  bold  and  meek, 

Would  for  Christ  my  Saviour  speak. 

“Truthful  Spirit,  dwell  with  me: 

I  myself  would  truthful  be; 

And  with  wisdom  kind  and  clear, 

Let  thy  life  and  mine  appear; 

And  with  actions  brotherly, 

Speak  my  Lord’s  sincerity. 

• 

“Holy  Spirit,  dwell  with  me: 

I  myself  would  holy  be; 

Separate  from  sin,  1  would 
Choose  and  cherish  all  things  good, 

And,  whatever  I  can  be. 

Give  to  Him  who  gave  me  thee.”  — Thomas  T.  Lynch. 

^ZHgtZ  (0t  tty  SDOgJ;  “O  Thou  whose  eye  is  over  all  the  children  of  men, 
and  who  hast  called  them  by  thy  Prince  of  Peace  into  a  kingdom  not  of 
this  world,  send  forth  thy  Spirit  into  all  the  dark  places  of  life.  Let  him 
still  the  noise  of  our  strife,  and  the  tumult  of  the  people,  carry  faith  to  the 
doubting,  hope  to  the  fearful,  strength  to  the  weak,  light  to  the  mourners, 
and  more  and  more  increase  the  pure  in  heart  who  see  their  God.  Commit 
thy  Word,  O  Lord,  to  the  lips  of  faithful  servants,  that  soon  the  knowledge 
of  thee  may  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters  cover  the  channels  of  the  deep, 
and  so  let  thy  kingdom  come,  and  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven ; 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805-1900). 

253 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  n 


Jn&todltnff  £>pmt 

fOt  tj)£  “Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  a  temple  of  God,  and 

that  the  Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you?” — i  Corinthians  3.  16. 

(Ot  t$Z  SDap:  Romans  8.  1-11. 

1  There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation  to  them  that  are 
in  Christ  Jesus.  2  For  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus 
made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  of  death.  3  For  what  the 
law  could  not  do,  in  that  it  was  weak  through  the  flesh,  God,  send¬ 
ing  his  own  Son  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh  and  for  sin,  con¬ 
demned  sin  in  the  flesh:  4  that  the  ordinance  of  the  law  might  be 

fulfilled  in  us,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit. 
5  For  they  that  are  after  the  flesh  mind  the  things  of  the  flesh; 
but  they  that  are  after  the  Spirit,  the  things  of  the  Spirit.  6  For 
the  mind  of  the  flesh  is  death;  but  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  is  life 

and  peace;  7  because  the  mind  of  the  flesh  is  enmity  against  God; 

for  it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  it  be: 
8  and  they  that  are  in  the  flesh  cannot  please  God.  9  But  ye  are 
not  in  the  flesh  but  in  the  Spirit,  if  so  be  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
dwelleth  in  you.  But  if  any  man  hath  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  he 
is  none  of  his.  10  And  if  Christ  is  in  you,  the  body  is  dead  because 
of  sin;  but  the  spirit  is  life  because  of  righteousness.  11  But  if 
the  Spirit  of  him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from  the  dead  dwelleth 
in  you,  he  that  raised  up  Christ  Jesus  from  the  dead  shall  give 
life  also  to  your  mortal  bodies  through  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth 
in  you. 

"0  living  Spirit,  O  falling  of  God-dew, 

O  grace  which  does  console  us  and  renew, 

O  vital  light,  O  breath  of  angelhood, 

O  generous  ministration  of  things  good, 

Creator  of  the  visible,  and  best, 

Upholder  of  the  great  unmanifest, 

Power  infinitely  wise,  new  boon  sublime, 

Of  science  and  of  art,  constraining  might, 

In  whom  I  breathe,  live,  speak,  rejoice  and  write — 

Be  with  us  in  all  places,  for  all  time!” 

— Manuel  Phile  {Trans.  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning.) 

y&Z&ytZ  tot  tf)Z  “Almighty  and  eternal  God,  there  is  no  number  of 

thy  days  or  of  thy  mercies;  thou  hast  sent  us  into  this  world  to  serve  thee, 
and  to  live  according  to  thy  laws.  O  Lord,  look  upon  us  in  mercy  and 
pity.  Let  thy  Holy  Spirit  lead  us  through  this  world  with  safety  and  peace, 
with  holiness  and  religion,  with  spiritual  comforts  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost; 
that  when  we  have  served  thee  in  our  generation,  we  may  be  gathered  into 
our  eternal  home;  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities, 
nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth, 
nor  any  other  creature,  may  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God, 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Jeremy  Taylor  (1613-1667). 


254 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  12 


fepmt  ot  Cljngrt  in  flDur  SDatlg  motk 

tot  tjt  jSDagt  “And  he  said  unto  all,  If  any  man  would  come 
after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow 
me.” — Luke  9.  23. 

£t0£0nf0ttl)t2Dai?:  Luke  12.  35-40. 

35  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  your  lamps  burning; 
36  and  be  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  looking  for  their  lord,  when 
he  shall  return  from  the  marriage  feast;  that,  when  he  cometh  and 
knocketh,  they  may  straightway  open  unto  him.  37  Blessed  are 
those  servants,  whom  the  lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  watching: 
verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  shall  gird  himself,  and  make  them 
sit  down  to  meat,  and  shall  come  and  serve  them.  38  And  if  he 
shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  and  if  in  the  third,  and  find  them 
so,  blessed  are  those  servants.  39  But  know  this,  that  if  the  master 
of  the  house  had  known  in  what  hour  the  thief  was  coming,  he 
would  have  watched,  and  not  have  left  his  house  to  be  broken 
through.  40  Be  ye  also  ready:  for  in  an  hour  that  ye  think  not  the 
Son  of  man  cometh. 

“He  is  a  Christian  who  tries  to  be  the  kind  of  neighbor  Christ  would  be,  and  the 
kind  of  citizen  Christ  would  be,  and  who  asks  himself  in  all  the  alternatives  of  his 
business  life,  and  his  social  life,  and  his  personal  life,  What  would  the  Master  do  in 
this  case?  The  best  Christian  is  he  who  most  reminds  the  people  with  whom  he  lives 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  who  never  reminds  anybody  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
is  not  a  Christian  at  all.” — George  Hodges. 

“To  love  some  one  more  dearly  every  day, 

To  help  a  wandering  child  to  find  his  way, 

To  ponder  o’er  a  noble  thought,  and  pray, 

And  smile  when  evening  falls, 

This  is  my  task. 

“To  follow  truth  as  blind  men  long  for  light, 

To  do  my  best  from  dawn  of  day  till  night, 

To  keep  my  heart  fit  for  his  holy  sight, 

And  answer  when  he  calls, 

This  is  my  task.”  ■ — Maude  Louise  Ray. 

pt f0t  tjjt  SDa#;  “O  God  we  thank  thee  for  the  sweet  refreshment  of 
sleep  and  for  the  glory  and  vigor  of  the  new  day.  As  we  set  our  faces  once 
more  toward  our  daily  work,  we  pray  thee  for  the  strength  sufficient  for  our 
tasks.  May  Christ’s  spirit  of  duty  and  service  ennoble  all  we  do.  Uphold  us 
with  the  consciousness  that  our  work  is  useful  work  and  a  blessing  to  all.  If 
there  has  been  anything  in  our  work  harmful  to  others  and  dishonorable  to 
ourselves,  reveal  it  to  our  inner  eye  with  such  clearness  that  we  shall  hate  it 
and  put  it  away,  though  it  be  at  a  loss  to  ourselves.  When  we  work  with 
others  help  us  to  regard  them,  not  as  servants  to  our  will,  but  as  brothers 
equal  to  us  in  human  dignity,  and  equally  worthy  of  their  full  reward. 
May  there  he  nothing  in  this  day's  work  of  which  we  shall  be  ashamed  when 
the  sun  has  set ,  nor  in  the  eventide  of  our  life  when  we  go  to  our  long  home 
to  meet  thy  face.”  Amen. — Walter  Rauschenbusch  (1861—1918). 

255 


COMRADESHIP  SEPTEMBER  13 

€>ut  Hongmg  tot  C5od 

tot  tf)t  “I  spread  forth  my  hands  unto  thee: 

My  soul  thirsteth  after  thee,  as  a  weary  land.” 

— Psalm  143.  6. 

%e&$on  for  tj)t  2Dap:  Psalm  119.  169-174. 

169  Let  my  cry  come  near  before  thee,  O  Jehovah: 

Give  me  understanding  according  to  thy  word. 

170  Let  my  supplication  come  before  thee: 

Deliver  me  according  to  thy  word. 

171  Let  my  lips  utter  praise; 

For  thou  teachest  me  thy  statutes. 

172  Let  my  tongue  sing  of  thy  word; 

For  all  thy  commandments  are  righteousness. 

173  Let  thy  hand  be  ready  to  help  me; 

For  I  have  chosen  thy  precepts. 

174  I  have  longed  for  thy  salvation,  O  Jehovah; 

And  thy  law  is  my  delight. 

“My  spirit  longeth  for  thee, 

Within  my  troubled  breast, 

Although  I  be  unworthy 
Of  so  Divine  a  Guest. 

“Of  so  Divine  a  Guest 
Unworthy  though  I  be, 

Yet  has  my  heart  no  rest 
Unless  it  come  from  thee. 

“Unless  it  come  from  thee. 

In  vain  I  look  around; 

In  all  that  I  can  see 
No  rest  is  to  be  found. 

“No  rest  is  to  be  found 

But  in  thy  blessed  love: 

Oh,  let  my  wish  be  crowned, 

And  send  it  from  above!” 

— John  Byrom. 

l&KfiyZX  (Ot  “Almighty  God  and  heavenly  Father,  we  would 

obey  the  instinct  that  impels  us  toward  thee  as  the  little  child  creeps  to  its 
mother  and  the  far  wandering  boy  thinks  of  his  home.  Wilt  thou  draw  us  by 
this  fine  strong  thread  which  thou  hast  spun  around  our  hearts  until  we  rest  in 
thine  arms?  Breathe  upon  us  through  thy  Holy  Spirit  and  mold  and  temper 
us  to  thy  will.  May  we  grow  intimate  with  Christ,  until  our  lives  are  hid 
with  his  in  thee.  So  may  we  be  filled  with  thy  fullness;  and  then  from  our 
hearts  may  we  send  forth  streams  of  sympathy  and  service  and  sacrifice  to 
enrich  other  lives  and  bless  the  great  wide  world.  And  this  we  ask  in  Jesus’ 
name.”  Amen. 


256 


COMRADESHIP  SEPTEMBER  14 

pme  Ofilfjtc!)  pagstetl)  flUn&trgtantuno; 


tot  tf)e  SDag:  “And  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under¬ 
standing,  shall  guard  your  hearts  and  your  thoughts  in  Christ  Jesus.” — 
Philippians  4.  7. 

JLt&$on  tot  tljeSDap:  John  14.  25-29. 

25  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  while  yet  abiding 
with  you.  26  But  the  Comforter,  even  the  Holy  Spirit,  whom  the 
Father  will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and 
bring  to  your  remembrance  all  that  I  said  unto  you.  27  Peace  I 
leave  with  you;  my  peace  I  give  unto  you:  not  as  the  world  giveth, 
give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be 
fearful.  28  Ye  heard  how  I  said  to  you,  I  go  away,  and  I  come 
unto  you.  If  ye  loved  me,  ye  would  have  rejoiced,  because  I  go 
unto  the  Father:  for  the  Father  is  greater  than  I.  29  And  now  I 
have  told  you  before  it  come  to  pass,  that,  when  it  is  come  to  pass, 
ye  may  believe. 


“Give  me  a  heart  of  calm  repose 
Amid  the  world’s  loud  roar; 

A  life  that  like  a  river  flows, 

Along  a  peaceful  shore. 

“Above  the  scenes  of  storm  and  strife, 

There  spreads  a  region  fair; 

Give  me  to  live  that  higher  life 
And  breathe  that  purer  air. 

“Allay  this  feverish,  restless  mood, 

Arrest  life’s  eager  chase, 

And  quench  the  thirst  for  earthly  good 
With  thy  bedewing  grace!’’ 

“This  peace  is  more  than  silence  after  storms.  It  is  as  the  concord  of  all  melodious 
sounds;  a  season  when,  in  the  fullest  flow  of  thought  and  feeling,  in  the  universal  action 
of  the  soul,  an  inward  calm,  profound  as  midnight  silence,  yet  bright  as  the  still  summer 
noon,  full  of  joy,  but  unbroken  by  one  throb  of  tumultuous  passion,  is  breathed  through 
the  spirit,  and  a  glimpse  and  presage  given  of  the  serenity  of  a  happier  world.  Of  this 
character  is  the  peace  of  religion.  It  is  a  conscious  harmony  with  God  and  the  cre¬ 
ation,  an  alliance  of  love  with  all  beings,  a  sympathy  with  all  that  is  pure  and  happy, 
a  surrender  of  every  separate  will  and  interest,  a  participation  of  the  spirit  and  life  of 
the  universe,  an  entire  concord  of  purpose  with  its  Infinite  Original.” — William  Ellery 
Charming. 

fOt  tf)t  “Almighty  God!  fill  us  with  thy  Spirit  as  thou  didst 

fill  the  men  of  old.  They  saw  thee  in  all  the  relations  of  life;  then  God  was 
all  in  all.  They  looked  on  the  flock,  and  on  the  tender  green  pasture,  and 
saw  thee.  They  said,  ‘God  is  my  shepherd.’  Let  their  spirit  be  ours. 

O  Shepherd  of  the  sheep !  who  didst  promise  to  carry  the  lambs  in  thy  arms, 
and  to  lead  us  by  the  still  waters,  help  us  all  to  know  the  peace  which  passeth 
understanding .  Let  thy  gentleness  make  us  great.  Show  us  thy  Son,  and 
abiding  in  him,  may  we  abide  in  thee.  Have  mercy  upon  us  and  hear  our 
prayers.  Guide  us,  till  at  last,  in  the  assembly  of  thy  saints,  we  may  find 
rest  forevermore.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

257 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  15 

peace 


$ets»e  tot  t f\t  2Dap:  “  Now  the  Lord  of  peace  himself  give  you  peace  at 
all  times  in  all  ways.” — 2  T hessalonians  3.  16. 

2les I0on  to t  t$e  2Da^:  Isaiah  26.  1-6. 

i  In  that  day  shall  this  song  be  sung  in  the  land  of  Judah: 
We  have  a  strong  city;  salvation  will  he  appoint  for  walls  and 
bulwarks.  2  Open  ye  the  gates,  that  the  righteous  nation  which 
keepeth  faith  may  enter  in.  3  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect 
peace,  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee;  because  he  trusteth  in  thee. 
4  Trust  ye  in  Jehovah  forever;  for  in  Jehovah,  even  Jehovah,  is  an 
everlasting  rock.  5  For  he  hath  brought  down  them  that  dwell  on 
high,  the  lofty  city:  he  layeth  it  low,  he  layeth  it  low  even  to  the 
ground;  he  bringeth  it  even  to  the  dust.  6  The  foot  shall  tread  it 
down;  even  the  feet  of  the  poor,  and  the  steps  of  the  needy. 


“The  cause  of  discontent  is  not  in  men’s  circumstances,  but  in  their  own  spirit 
and  temper.  Get  the  song  into  your  heart,  and  you  will  hear  songs  all  about  you.  Even 
the  wailing  storm  will  make  music  for  you.  Get  the  beauty  and  the  good  into  your 
own  soul,  and  into  your  own  life,  and  you  will  find  peace  in  every  lot.” — J .  R.  Miller. 


“Just  to  let  thy  Father  do 
What  he  will; 

Just  to  know  that  he  is  true, 

And  be  still; 

Just  to  trust  him,  this  is  all! 

Then  the  day  will  surely  be 

Peaceful,  whatsoe’er  befall, 

Bright  and  blessed,  calm  and  free.” 

— F.  R.  Ilavergal. 

Ptaptt  fat  tj)t  2Da#>  “Oh,  Lord,  unto  whom  all  hearts  are  open,  thou 
canst  govern  the  vessels  of  our  souls  far  better  than  we  can.  Arise,  O  Lord, 
and  command  the  stormy  wind  and  the  troubled  sea  of  our  hearts  to  be  still, 
and  at  peace  in  thee ,  that  we  may  look  up  to  thee  undisturbed,  and  abide  in 
unison  with  thee,  our  Lord.  Let  us  not  be  carried  hither  and  thither  by 
wandering  thoughts,  but,  forgetting  all  else,  let  us  see  and  hear  thee.  Renew 
our  spirits;  kindle  in  us  thy  light,  that  it  may  shine  within  us,  and  our  hearts 
may  burn  in  love  and  adoration  toward  thee.  Let  thy  Holy  Spirit  dwell  in  us 
continually,  and  make  us  thy  temples  and  sanctuary,  and  fill  us  with  divine 
love  and  light  and  life,  with  devout  and  heavenly  thoughts,  with  comfort 
and  strength,  with  joy  and  peace.”  Amen. — Johann  Arndt  (1555-1621). 


COMRADESHIP  SEPTEMBER  16 

?lt)t  jfaitf)  ot 


C?£££»£  fOt  tjjt  “Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  be  well-pleasing 

unto  him;  for  he  that  cometh  to  God  must  believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he 
is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  seek  after  him.” — Hebrews  n.  6. 

3^££0nf0ttf)eS)ap:  Hebrews  II.  32-40. 

32  And  what  shall  I  more  say?  for  the  time  will  fail  me  if  I 
tell  of  Gideon,  Barak,  Samson,  Jephthah;  of  David  and  Samuel  and 
the  prophets;  33  who  through  faith  subdued  kingdoms,  wrought 
righteousness,  obtained  promises,  stopped  the  mouths  of  lions,  34 
quenched  the  power  of  fire,  escaped  the  edge  of  the  sword,  from 
weakness  were  made  strong,  waxed  mighty  in  war,  turned  to  flight 
armies  of  aliens.  35  Women  received  their  dead  by  a  resurrection  : 
and  others  were  tortured,  not  accepting  their  deliverance;  that  they 
might  obtain  a  better  resurrection :  36  and  others  had  trial  of 
mockings  and  scourgings,  yea,  moreover  of  bonds  and  imprison¬ 
ment:  37  they  were  stoned,  they  were  sawn  asunder,  they  were 
tempted,  they  were  slain  with  the  sword :  they  went  about  in 
sheepskins,  in  goatskins;  being  destitute,  afflicted,  ill-treated  38 
(of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy),  wandering  in  deserts  and 
mountains  and  caves,  and  the  holes  of  the  earth.  39  And  these  all, 
having  had  witness  borne  to  them  through  their  faith,  received  not 
the  promise,  40  God  having  provided  some  better  thing  concern¬ 
ing  us,  that  apart  from  us  they  should  not  be  made  perfect. 

“For  ail  the  saints  who  from  their  labors  rest, 

Who  thee  by  faith  before  the  world  confessed, 

Thy  name,  O  Jesu,  be  forever  blest. 

“Thou  wast  their  Rock,  their  Fortress,  and  their  Might; 

Thou,  Lord,  their  Captain  in  the  well-fought  fight; 

Thou  in  the  darkness  drear  their  one  true  Light. 

“0  may  thy  soldiers,  faithful,  true,  and  bold, 

Fight  as  the  saints  who  nobly  fought  of  old, 

And  win  with  them  the  victor’s  crown  of  gold. 

“0  blest  communion,  fellowship  divine, 

We  feebly  struggle,  they  in  glory  shine; 

Yet  all  are  one  in  thee,  for  all  are  thine.’’  — Walsham  How. 

Pta ytv  tot  tjje  $Dap:  We  are  reminded,  O  God,  of  the  faith  of  the  mighty 
men  of  olden  time.  May  the  remembrance  of  them  inspire  our  hearts  with 
courage  and  strength;  so  that  we  too  may  be  prepared  for  valiant  service  for 
thee.  Uphold  us  that  we  may  walk  undaunted  in  the  path  of  duty  and 
loyalty,  even  though  it  cost  all  that  we  hold  dear.  Even  amid  grief  and 
suffering  may  we  continue  to  cling  to  thee  and  perform  our  appointed  tasks 
in  trust  and  cheerfulness.  Strengthen  us  to  combat  injustice  and  oppression, 
and  to  strive  unceasingly  in  behalf  of  truth,  and  righteousness.  Fill  our 
hearts  with  love  and  compassion  for  the  needy  and  distressed,  that  we  may 
gladly  share  with  them  the  bounties  we  enjoy.  Make  us  truly  conscious  that 
thou  art  the  loving  Father  of  all  men  and  that  it  is  thy  will  that  thy  children 
be  not  divided  by  distrust  and  strife,  but  united  in  an  eternal  covenant  of 
brotherhood  and  peace.  Then  will  deliverance  be  the  portion  of  thy  people 
and  salvation  the  heritage  of  all  who  put  their  trust  in  thee.  Amen. 

259 


COMRADESHIP  SEPTEMBER  17 

^8 1  flUnfatltng  Counsel  ot  d5ob 


Wtt&t  (ot  tSt  2Dap: 
%t$$on  (ot  tf)t  SDap: 


“The  counsel  of  Jehovah  standeth  fast  forever, 
The  thoughts  of  his  heart  to  all  generations.” 

— Psalm  33.  11. 


Proverbs  19.  20— 23. 


20  Hear  counsel,  and  receive  instruction, 

That  thou  mayest  be  wise  in  thy  latter  end. 

21  There  are  many  devices  in  a  man’s  heart; 

But  the  counsel  of  Jehovah,  that  shall  stand. 

22  That  which  maketh  a  man  to  be  desired  is  his  kindness; 
And  a  poor  man  is  better  than  a  liar, 

23  The  fear  of  Jehovah  tendeth  to  life; 

And  he  that  hath  it  shall  abide  satisfied; 

He  shall  not  be  visited  with  evil. 


“Sometime,  when  all  life’s  lessons  have  been  learned, 

And  sun  and  stars  forevermore  have  set, 

The  things  which  our  weak  judgment  here  has  spurned, 

The  things  o’er  which  we  grieved  with  lashes  wet, 

Will  flash  before  us  out  of  life’s  dark  night, 

As  stars  shine  most  in  deeper  tints  of  blue; 

And  we  shall  see  how  all  God’s  plans  were  right, 

And  how  what  seemed  reproof  was  love  most  true.” — M.  R.  Smith. 

Ptapet  (or  tfje  2Dag:  “  Almighty  God !  we  are  children  of  change,  whose 
days  are  short,  whose  purposes  are  many;  yet  our  eternal  joy  is  to  remernber 
that  thy  counsel  standeth  forever ,  the  thoughts  of  thy  heart  to  all  generations. 
For,  Lord  God,  what  matter  that  we  pass  away  so  quickly  if  we  are  in  thee? 
What  matter  whether  we  live  or  die.  If  we  are  within  thy  loving  care,  it 
shall  be  well  with  us.  And  we  beseech  thee  that  amid  all  chance  and  change 
of  this  our  fleeting  life,  we  may  ever  rest  in  God,  and  wait  patiently  for  thee, 
whose  counsel  standeth  forever.  Lord !  we  look  upon  nations  that  have 
existed,  and  are  passed  away,  the  ruins  of  ancient  things,  the  dim  fame  of  the 
things  the  world  has  counted  great,  and  we  turn  and  remember  that  thy 
counsel  standeth  forever.  When  we  would  lay  hold  upon  life  and  strength, 
let  us  know  that  thy  counsel  standeth  forever,  for  only  in  that  which  abideth 
can  we  abide.  When  we  remember  how  much  of  the  misery  of  life  has 
come  from  our  foolish  neglect  of  thy  counsel;  how  we  have  known  the  true 
light  and  turned  against  it,  beheld  thy  glory  and  closed  our  eyes,  known  thy 
love  and  shut  our  hearts,  heard  thy  warning  and  risked  the  sin,  have  mercy 
upon  us,  and  let  our  doubting  hearts  be  comforted,  in  that  thy  counsel  stand¬ 
eth  forever.  O  Lord  God,  when  we  count  the  little  things  of  this  life  to  be 
of  much  value,  and  the  sorrows  that  torment  us  in  this  world  to  be  very 
great,  teach  us  to  smile  as  we  think  how  small  these  things  be  when  we 
remember  that  thy  counsel  abideth  forever.  May  our  hearts  learn  to  be 
quiet.  *.  .  .  So  trusting  not  in  knowledge,  nor  in  vision,  but  simply 
knowing  that  ‘Thou  art  there,’  grant  that  all  these  things  may  bring  us  to 
the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  understanding,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Lord.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

260 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  18 


Tltit  ot  tSe  lftig;f)teou£> 


Perge  (ot  tfje  £Dag:  “Blessed  is  the  man  unto  whom  Jehovah  imputeth 

not  iniquity, 

And  in  whose  spirit  there  is  no  guile.” 

— Psalm  32.  2. 


JLt$$on  to t  tjjeSDap:  Psalm  I. 


1  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel  of  the 

wicked, 

Nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sinners, 

Nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  scoffers: 

2  But  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  Jehovah; 

And  on  his  law  doth  he  meditate  day  and  night. 

3  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  streams  of  water, 
That  bringeth  forth  its  fruit  in  its  season, 

Whose  leaf  also  doth  not  wither; 

And  whatsoever  he  doeth  shall  prosper. 

4  The  wicked  are  not  so, 

But  are  like  the  chaff  which  the  wind  driveth  away. 

5  Therefore  the  wicked  shall  not  stand  in  the  judgment, 

Nor  sinners  in  the  congregation  of  the  righteous. 

6  For  Jehovah  knoweth  the  way  of  the  righteous; 

But  the  way  of  the  wicked  shall  perish. 


“The  serene,  silent  beauty  of  a  holy  life  is  the  most  powerful  influence  in  the  world 
next  to  the  might  of  the  Spirit  of  God.” 


“Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  man  who  had  striven  all  his  life  faithfully  and  singly  toward 
an  object  and  in  no  measure  obtained  it?  If  a  man  constantly  aspires,  is  he  not  elevated? 
Did  ever  a  man  try  heroism,  magnanimity,  truth,  sincerity,  and  find  that  there  was  no 
advantage  in  them,  that  it  was  a  vain  endeavor?” — Thoreau. 

(ot  tfjt  2Dap:  Grant  unto  us,  O  Lord,  that  by  thy  grace  we  may 
so  live  as  to  know  the  blessedness  of  the  righteousness  of  which  the  psalmist 
speaks.  We  are  dependent  upon  thee  for  aid;  we  need  the  inspiration  and 
the  help  of  thy  Spirit.  We  lift  up  our  eyes  unto  the  hills  from  whence 
cometh  our  help;  our  help  cometh  from  the  Lord,  which  made  heaven  and 
earth.  Only  our  sins  separate  us  from  thee,  our  loving  Father,  and  we  be¬ 
seech  thee  to  blot  these  out  for  thy  name’s  sake.  Pardon  our  infirmities, 
strengthen  us  in  all  goodness,  and  establish  us  in  the  ways  of  righteousness 
and  true  holiness.  Bless  our  fellow  men.  May  thy  gracious  favor  rest  upon 
our  community,  our  State,  and  our  nation.  Give  peace  in  our  time,  O  Lord, 
and  incline  the  hearts  and  minds  of  all  those  who  are  in  places  of  respon¬ 
sibility  to  that  which  is  just  and  lawful  in  thy  sight.  Have  mercy  upon  the 
poor,  the  afflicted,  the  solitary,  the  bereaved,  and  cause  that  the  grace  and 
truth  of  thy  gospel  shall  go  forth  everywhere  to  heal  the  errors  and  the  sins 
and  the  sorrows  of  all  mankind.  For  Jesus’  sake.  Amen. 


261 


COMRADESHIP 


SEPTEMBER  19 

fDt  ifyt  “For  our  citizenship  is  in  heaven.” — Philippians 

3.  20. 

JLt$$0l\  fOttjjeSDap:  Colossians  3-  1-4,  12-17. 

i  If  then  ye  were  raised  together  with  Christ,  seek  the  things 
that  are  above,  where  Christ  is,  seated  on  the  right  hand  of  God. 
2.  Set  your  mind  on  the  things  that  are  above,  not  on  the  things 
that  are  upon  earth.  3  For  ye  died,  and  your  life  is  hid  with 
Christ  in  God.  4  When  Christ  who  is  our  life,  shall  be  manifested, 
then  shall  ye  also  with  him  be  manifested  in  glory. 

12  Put  on  therefore,  as  God’s  elect,  holy  and  beloved,  a  heart  of 
compassion,  kindness,  lowliness,  meekness,  long-suffering;  13  for¬ 
bearing  one  another,  and  forgiving  each  other,  if  any  man  have  a 
complaint  against  any;  even  as  the  Lord  forgave  you,  so  also  do  ye: 
14  and  above  all  these  things  put  on  love,  which  is  the  bond  of  per¬ 
fectness.  15  And  let  the  peace  of  Christ  rule  in  your  hearts,  to  the 
which  also  ye  were  called  in  one  body;  and  be  ye  thankful.  16  Let 
the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly;  in  all  wisdom  teaching 
and  admonishing  one  another  with  psalms  and  hymns  and  spiritual 
songs,  singing  with  grace  in  your  hearts  unto  God.  17  And  what¬ 
soever  ye  do,  in  word  or  in  deed,  do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  giving  thanks  to  God  the  Father  through  him. 

“Oh!  Thou  who  taught  my  infant  eye 
To  pierce  the  air  and  view  the  sky, 

To  see  my  God  in  earth  and  seas, 

To  hear  him  in  the  vernal  breeze, 

To  know  him  midnight  thoughts  among, 

O  guide  my  soul  and  aid  my  song. 

Spirit  of  Light,  do  thou  impart 
Majestic  truths  and  teach  my  heart: 

How  vain  my  powers,  how  weak  my  frame; 

Teach  me  celestial  paths  untrod — 

The  ways  of  glory  and  of  God.”  — George  Crabbe. 

ptaget  for  tl&e  amp:  O  Lord,  our  God,  enable  us  to  worship  thee  in 
reverent  and  holy  fear,  with  true  confidence  and  holy  joy,  according  to  thy 
word.  Thou  art  very  great  and  very  good.  Lord,  thou  art  not  far  from 
every  one  of  us;  for  in  thee  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being.  Make 
us  to  believe  thy  greatness  and  thy  goodness,  as  shown  by  thy  providential 
care  and  bounty  continually.  Especially  make  us  to  know  thee  better  as  thou 
makest  thyself  known  to  us  in  thy  holy  Word.  And  O,  grant  unto  us  thatj 
seeking  the  things  that  are  above ,  our  minds  may  be  set  on  heavenly  things. 
Deliver  us,  we  pray  thee,  from  all  coarse  and  low  thought  and  speech.  Help 
us  that  we  may  each  have  that  heart  of  compassion,  of  kindness,  of  meekness 
and  of  long-suffering  which  we  are  enjoined  by  thy  apostles  to  possess.  O  our 
gracious  God,  thy  tender  mercies  are  over  all  thy  works.  Thou  art  the  God 
of  all  the  families  of  the  earth.  We  pray  that  thou  wilt  bless  others  as  well 
as  ourselves.  Help  us,  both  as  individuals  and  as  a  nation,  to  give  ourselves 
in  service  to  mankind  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  For  his  sake  we  ask  it. 
Amen. 


262 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  20 


m\ )c  ^atS  o(  SDtttp 

IP£££>£  t0t  tpt  “For  the  ways  of  Jehovah  are  right,  and  the  just 

shall  walk  in  them.” — Hosea  14.  9b. 

JLtffton  tottfjtSDap;  Luke  9.  51-53,  59-62. 

51  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  days  were  well-nigh  come  that 
he  should  be  received  up,  he  steadfastly  set  his  face  to  go  to  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  52  and  sent  messengers  before  his  face:  and  they  went  and 
entered  into  a '  village  of  the  Samaritans,  to  make  ready  for  him. 
53  And  they  did  not  receive  him,  because  his  face  was  as  though 
he  were  going  to  Jerusalem.  59  And  he  said  unto  another,  Follow 
me.  But  he  said,  Lord,  suffer  me  first  to  go  and  bury  my  father. 
60  But  he  said  unto  him,  Leave  the  dead  to  bury  their  own  dead; 
but  go  thou  and  publish  abroad  the  kingdom  of  God.  61  And 
another  also  said,  I  will  follow  thee,  Lord,  but  first  suffer  me  to 
bid  farewell  to  them  that  are  at  my  house.  62  But  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  No  man,  having  put  his  hand  to  the  plow,  and  looking  back, 
is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 


“If  man  aspire  to  reach  the  throne  of  God, 

O’er  the  dull  plains  of  earth  must  lie  his  road. 

He  who  best  does  his  lowly  duty  here 
Shall  mount  the  highest  in  a  nobler  sphere; 

At  God’s  own  feet  our  spirits  seek  their  rest, 

And  he  is  nearest  him  who  serves  him  best.” 

— Anonymous. 


“Not  once  or  twice  in  our  fair  island-story, 

The  path  of  duty  was  the  way  of  glory; 

He,  that  ever  following  her  commands, 

On  with  toil  of  heart,  and  knees,  and  hands, 

Through  the  long  gorge  to  the  far  light  has  won 
His  path  upward,  and  prevail’d, 

Shall  find  the  toppling  crags  of  duty  scaled 
Are  close  upon  the  shining  table-lands 
To  which  our  God  himself  is  moon  and  sun.” 

— Alfred  Tennyson. 

ptapet  tot  tfie  2Dag:  “  Most  merciful  Father,  in  whom  we  live  and  move 
and  have  our  being,  glorify  thyself  in  us.  Instruct  us  in  thy  faith,  purify 
us  by  thy  Spirit,  destroy  the  evil  that  lurks  in  our  members,  kindle  in  us 
holy  aspiration,  teach  us  to  be  loving  and  sincere,  make  us  fruitful  in  every 
good  work.  We  do  not  know  how  to  guide  our  lives:  take  thou  the  control 
of  them.  Make  the  path  of  duty  clear  to  us ,  and  give  us  the  heart  to  do  it. 
Lead  us  in  pleasant  paths,  if  it  be  thy  gracious  will;  or  if  thou  givest  us 
some  daily  round  of  irksome  labor  to  be  done  in  the  shadow,  may  we  do  it 
bravely  for  thy  sake,  and  sing  at  our  toil.  From  the  bitter  and  foolish  judg¬ 
ments  of  men,  from  worldly  snares  and  enticements,  from  the  errors  that 
lead  to  unbelief  and  despair,  grant  us  joyful  deliverance.  May  thy  gospel 
be  preached  among  the  heathen,  and  thy  love  and  righteousness  exalted  in  the 
sight  of  all  nations.  Let  the  new  song  arise,  because  thy  right  hand  and  thy 
holy  arm  have  gotten  the  victory  in  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. 

263 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  21 


Cfie  IQtoe  ZX$z  ot  Himt 

$0t£0  (Ot  t!)0  “Look  therefore  carefully  how  ye  walk,  not  as  un¬ 

wise,  but  as  wise;  redeeming  the  time,  because  the  days  are  evil.” — 
Ephesians  5.  15?  16. 

3lt&$0X\  (ot  tl)e  2Dttp:  Psalm  90.  IO-I2,  16,  17. 

10  The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and  ten, 

Or  even  by  reason  of  strength  fourscore  years; 

Yet  is  their  pride  but  labor  and  sorrow; 

For  it  is  soon  gone,  and  we  fly  away. 

11  Who  knoweth  the  power  of  thine  anger, 

And  thy  wrath  according  to  the  fear  that  is  due  unto  thee? 

12  So  teach  us  to  number  our  days, 

That  we  may  get  us  a  heart  of  wisdom. 

16  Let  thy  work  appear  unto  thy  servants, 

And  thy  glory  upon  their  children. 

17  And  let  the  favor  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us; 

And  establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us; 

Yea,  the  work  of  our  hands  establish  thou  it. 

“Lo,  here  hath  been  dawning 
Another  blue  day; 

Think,  wilt  thou  let  it 
Slip  useless  away?” 

—  Thomas  Carlyle. 

“Fill  up  each  hour  with  what  will  last; 

Buy  up  the  moments  as  they  go; 

The  life  above,  when  this  is  past, 

Is  the  ripe  fruit  of  life  below.” 

— Horatius  Bonar. 

“Believe  me  when  I  tell  you  that  thrift  of  time  will  repay  you  in  after  life,  with  a 
usury  of  profit  beyond  your  most  sanguine  dreams,  and  that  waste  of  it  will  make  you 
dwindle  alike  in  intellectual  and  moral  station  beyond  your  darkest  reckoning.” — Wil¬ 
liam  E.  Gladstone. 

(Ot  “O  Lord,  in  whose  hands  are  life  and  death,  by 

whose  power  we  are  sustained,  and  by  whose  mercy  we  are  spared,  look  down 
upon  us  with  pity.  Forgive  us  that  we  have  until  now  so  much  neglected 
the  duty  which  thou  hast  assigned  to  us,  and  suffered  the  days  and  hours  of 
which  we  must  give  account  to  pass  away  without  due  endeavor  to  accom¬ 
plish  thy  will.  Make  us  to  remember,  O  God,  that  every  day  is  thy  gift  to 
be  used  according  to  thy  command.  Grant  us,  therefore,  so  to  repent  of  our 
negligence  that  we  may  obtain  mercy  from  thee,  and  pass  the  time  which  thou 
shalt  yet  allow  us  in  diligent  performance  of  thy  command,  through  Jesus 
Christ.”  Amen. — Samuel  Johnson  (1708—1784). 


264 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  22 


Cbnr  JLiit  a  plan  ot  C5oli 

\&ZZ$Z  fat  tf)£  2Dagt  “O  Jehovah,  I  know  that  the  way  of  man  is  not  in 
himself;  it  is  not  in  man  that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps.” — Jeremiah 
10.  23. 

HfggonfortljeSDap:  Psalm  37.  23-28. 

23  A  man’s  goings  are  established  of  Jehovah; 

And  he  delighteth  in  his  way. 

24  Though  he  fall,  he  shall  not  be  utterly  cast  down; 

For  Jehovah  upholdeth  him  with  his  hand. 

25  I  have  been  young,  and  now  am  old; 

Yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken, 

Nor  his  seed  begging  bread. 

26  All  the  day  long  he  dealeth  graciously,  and  lendeth; 

And  his  seed  is  blessed. 

27  Depart  from  evil,  and  do  good; 

And  dwell  forevermore. 

28  For  Jehovah  loveth  justice, 

And  forsaketh  not  his  saints; 

They  are  preserved  forever: 

But  the  seed  of  the  wicked  shall  be  cut  off. 


“God  has  a  definite  life-plan  set  for  every  man;  one  that,  being  accepted  and  fol¬ 
lowed,  will  conduct  him  to  the  best  and  noblest  end  possible.  And  so,  as  you  pass  on, 
stage  by  stage,  in  your  courses  of  experience,  it  is  made  clear  to  you  that  whatever  you 
have  laid  upon  you  to  do  or  suffer,  whatever  to  want,  whatever  to  surrender  or  conquer, 
is  exactly  best  for  you.  Your  life  is  a  school,  exactly  adapted  to  your  lesson,  and  that 
to  the  best,  last  end  of  your  existence.  No  room  for  a  discouraged  or  depressed  feeling, 
therefore,  is  left  you.  Enough  that  you  exist  for  a  purpose  high  enough  to  give  meaning 
to  life,  and  to  support  a  genuine  inspiration.  If  your  sphere  is  outwardly  humble,  God 
understands  it  better  than  you  do,  and  it  is  part  of  his  wisdom  to  bring  out  great  senti¬ 
ments  in  humble  conditions,  great  characters  under  great  adversities  and  heavy  loads  of 
incumbrance.” — Horace  Bushnell. 

(Ot  tfjt  O  God,  our  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  the  assur¬ 

ance  that  thou  dost  regard  us  with  more  than  a  father’s  care.  We  need  thy 
counsel  and  thy  direction.  May  we  hold  fast  our  confidence  that  thou  dost 
appoint  unto  us  our  work  and  that,  bending  our  wills  to  thine,  thou  dost 
help  us  to  perform  our  tasks  and  to  guide  our  affairs  with  wisdom.  Grant 
unto  us,  we  pray  thee,  such  success  as  seemeth  best  to  thee.  There  is  joy 
and  satisfaction  in  feeling  that  thy  divine  will  is  being  realized  in  our  lives. 
Help  us  so  to  live  in  dependence  upon  thee  that  this  may  be  our  confidence. 
Suffer  us  not  to  be  overburdened,  but  aid  us  that  we  may  know  the  secret  of 
casting  our  burdens  upon  the  Lord.  Receive  our  intercessions  for  all  man¬ 
kind.  Help  us  that  we  may  make  our  neighborhood  and  our  nation  a  part 
of  thy  Kingdom.  May  thy  kingdom  come  in  the  lives  of  all  our  people. 
Bless  our  home  and  grant  that  righteousness  and  peace  and  joy  in  thee  may 
rule  in  all  our  lives  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


265 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  23 

lutotoletig*  of  C&ob 


fOt  t §£  “For  I  desire  goodness,  and  not  sacrifice;  and  the 

knowledge  of  God  more  than  burnt  offerings.” — Hosea  6.  6. 

i2LejS»jGrPn  for  tSe  Proverbs  2.  1-9. 

1  My  son,  if  thou  wilt  receive  my  words, 

And  lay  up  my  commandments  with  thee; 

2  So  as  to  incline  thine  ear  unto  wisdom, 

And  apply  thy  heart  to  understanding; 

3  Yea,  if  thou  cry  after  discernment, 

And  lift  up  thy  voice  for  understanding; 

4  If  thou  seek  her  as  silver, 

And  search  for  her  as  for  hid  treasures: 

5  Then  shalt  thou  understand  the  fear  of  Jehovah, 

And  find  the  knowledge  of  God. 

6  For  Jehovah  giveth  wisdom; 

Out  of  his  mouth  cometh  knowledge  and  understanding: 

7  He  layeth  up  sound  wisdom  for  the  upright; 

He  is  a  shield  to  them  that  walk  in  integrity; 

8  That  he  may  guard  the  paths  of  justice, 

And  preserve  the  way  of  his  saints. 

9  Then  shalt  thou  understand  righteousness  and  justice, 

And  equity,  yea,  every  good  path. 


“The  moral  content  of  life  is  based  not  on  ritual  and  ecclesiastical  law,  but  on  reason 
and  conscience,  and  these  are  the  gift  of  God.  We  have  here,  on  the  one  hand,  the 
recognition  of  the  mind  of  man  as  a  source  of  truth,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  asser¬ 
tion  that  the  moral  potency  of  the  mind  is  the  creation  of  God.  Jehovah  is  the  source 
of  wisdom.  .  .  .  He  who  seeks  wisdom  will  understand  the  fear  or  knowledge  of  God, 
because  all  knowledge  comes  from  him.  The  reference  is  probably  to  the  whole  moral 
thought  and  conduct  of  man — human  instincts,  the  results  of  experience,  the  common- 
law  of  morality,  as  well  as  the  ethical  prescriptions  contained  in  the  Israelitish  canonical 
and  oral  codes.” — C.  H.  Toy. 

y&Z&IPtZ  fOZ  tf)C  “Almighty  God,  who  givest  to  thy  creatures  life  and 

breath  and  all  things,  we  acknowledge  thy  sovereignty,  and  bow  before  the 
throne  of  thy  holiness.  Ignorantly  have  we  worshiped  thee,  often  have  we 
sought  thee,  as  if  thou  wert  far  away.  Yet  thou  art  ever  near,  sustaining  our 
spirits;  we  are  kept  as  in  the  hollow  of  thy  hand.  Grant  unto  us  that  we 
may  attain,  in  increasing  measure,  to  the  knowledge  of  God.  For  the  revela¬ 
tion  of  thy  wisdom  and  goodness  in  the  works  of  the  creation,  we  praise  thee : 
and  still  more  for  the  unfolding  of  thy  will  and  of  thy  mercy  in  Jesus  Christ. 
Give  us  to  see  our  God  in  the  Word  who  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us,  full  of  grace  and  truth.  Grant  that  the  nations,  whom  thou 
hast  taught  to  seek  after  thee,  may  find  thee  in  Him  who  is  the  brightness  of 
thy  glory,  and  the  very  image  of  thy  substance.  Call  them  by  thy  gospel, 
enlighten  them  by  thy  spirit,  redeem  them  from  the  long  tyranny  of  the 
powers  of  darkness.  Raise  up  preachers  and  missionaries  of  thy  word,  who 
in  the  seats  of  ancient  unbelief  shall  plant  the  foundations  of  faith,  and 
build  temples  to  thy  Christ.  For  His  name’s  sake.”  Amen. 

266 


OBEDIENCE  SEPTEMBER  24 

&  dSDb'&jpjmntcfci  rCasfc 

Pttgrt  (Ot  “Here  am  I;  for  thou  calledst  me.” — 1  Samuel  3.  5. 

tor  tfje  2Dap:  Acts  13.  1-5;  14-  25-28. 

1  Now  there  were  at  Antioch  in  the  church  that  was  there, 
prophets  and  teachers,  ...  2  And  as  they  ministered  to  the 

Lord,  and  fasted,  the  Holy  Spirit  said,  Separate  me  Barnabas  and 
Saul  for  the  work  whereunto  I  have  called  them.  3  Then,  when 
they  had  fasted  and  prayed  and  laid  their  hands  on  them,  they  sent 
them  away. 

4  So  they,  being  sent  forth  by 'the  Holy  Spirit,  went  down 
to  Seleucia;  and  from  thence  they  sailed  to  Cyprus.  5  And  when 
they  were  at  Salamis,  they  proclaimed  the  word  of  God  in  the 
synagogues  of  the  Jews:  and  they  had  also  John  as  their  attendant. 

14.  25  And  when  they  had  spoken  the  word  in  Perga,  they  went 
down  to  Attalia;  26  and  thence  they  sailed  to  Antioch,  from  whence 
they  had  been  committed  to  the  grace  of  God  for  the  work  which 
they  had  fulfilled.  27  And  when  they  were  come,  and  had  gathered 
the  church  together,  they  rehearsed  all  things  that  God  had  done 
with  them,  and  that  he  had  opened  a  door  of  faith  unto  the  Gen¬ 
tiles.  28  And  they  tarried  no  little  time  with  the  disciples. 


“Get  your  spindle  and  your  distaff  ready,  and  God  will  send  you  flax.” — J.  G. 
Holland. 

“Let  me  but  do  my  work  from  day  to  day 
In  field  or  forest,  at  the  desk  or  loom, 

In  roaring  market  place  or  tranquil  room 
Let  me  but  find  it  in  my  heart  to  say, 

When  vagrant  wishes  beckon  me  astray, 

‘This  is  my  work;  my  blessing,  not  my  doom, 

Of  all  the  world,  I  am  the  one  by  whom 
This  work  can  best  be  done,  in  the  right  way.’ 

So  shall  I  find  it  not  too  great,  nor  small 

To  suit  my  spirit  and  to  prove  my  powers. 

So  shall  I  cheerful  greet  the  laboring  hours, 

And  cheerful  turn,  when  the  long  shadows  fall 
At  eventide,  to  play,  and  love,  and  rest, 

Because  I  know  for  me  my  work  is  best.” 

— Anonymous. 


Pt iiytZ  tot  tf)C  “O  God,  from  whom  we  have  received  life  and  all 

earthly  blessings,  vouchsafe  to  give  unto  us  each  day  what  we  need.  Give 
unto  all  of  us  strength  to  perform  faithfully  our  appointed  tasks ;  bless  the 
work  of  our  hands  and  of  our  minds.  Grant  that  we  may  ever  serve  thee, 
in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  necessity  and  in  abundance;  sanctify  our  jo)^s 
and  our  trials,  and  give  us  grace  to  seek  first  thy  kingdom  and  its  righteous¬ 
ness,  in  the  sure  and  certain  faith  that  all  else  shall  be  added  unto  us ;  through 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. — Eugene  Bersier 
(1831-1889). 


267 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  25 

Cljaritp  anb  JLobt  tot  &\l 


tot  tf)t  2Da^>  “Beloved,  if  God  so  loved  us,  we  also  ought  to  love 
one  another.” — 1  John  4.  11. 

JLt&gon  tot  tije  SDap:  1  John  2.  7—1 1  ,*  3.  17. 

7  Beloved,  no  new  commandment  write  I  unto  you,  but  an 
old  commandment  which  ye  had  from  the  beginning:  the  old  com¬ 
mandment  is  the  word  which  ye  heard.  8  Again,  a  new  command¬ 
ment  write  I  unto  you,  which  thing  is  true  in  him  and  in  you; 
because  the  darkness  is  passing  away,  and  the  true  light  already 
shineth.  9  He  that  saith  he  is  in  the  light  and  hateth  his  brother, 
is  in  the  darkness  even  until  now.  10  He  that  loveth  his  brother 
abideth  in  the  light,  and  there  is  no  occasion  of  stumbling  in  him. 
11  But  he  that  hateth  his  brother  is  in  the  darkness,  and  walketh  in 
the  darkness,  and  knoweth  not  whither  he  goeth,  because  the  dark¬ 
ness  hath  blinded  his  eyes. 

3.  17  But  whoso  hath  the  world’s  goods,  and  beholdeth  his 
brother  in  need,  and  shutteth  up  his  compassion  from  him,  how 
doth  the  love  of  God  abide  in  him? 


“Pour  thy  blessings,  Lord,  like  showers. 

On  these  barren  lives  of  ours; 

Warm  and  quicken  them  with  grace 
Till  they  bloom  and  bear  apace 
Fruit  of  prayer  and  fruit  of  praise, 

Holy  thoughts  and  kindly  ways, 

Loving  sacrifices  shown 
Wheresoever  need  is  known.” 

— Miss  H.  McE.  Kimball. 

“There  lived  in  the  Middle  West  a  few  years  ago  a  woman  who  was  known  as 
‘Aunt  Emm.’  If  there  were  sickness  in  any  home  she  was  the  first  to  offer  help.  If 
death  brought  sadness  and  sorrow,  Aunt  Emm  was  always  present  to  bring  hope,  comfort, 
and  courage.  Her  baskets  of  provisions  found  their  way  to  the  homes  of  the  poor.  She 
opened  her  home  for  meetings  and  gatherings  of  all  sorts.  Her  flower  gardens  yielded, 
their  fragrance  and  color  to  sick  room,  library,  and  church.  She  entertained  lecturers, 
concert  singers,  and  visiting  clergymen.  She  gave  generously  to  all  good  causes,  sup¬ 
porting  the  church  and  all  its  enterprises.  She  was  envied  because  of  her  acquaintance 
with  missionaries  who  had  labored  among  strange  peoples.  Those  missionaries  visited 
her  on  their  furloughs  and  were  refreshed  by  rest  in  friendly  surroundings.  In  this  beau¬ 
tiful  life  sympathy  was  extended  until  it  touched  the  whole  circumference  of  experience.” 
— Ralph  E.  Diffendorfer. 


PtapCC  fdt  tl)?  “Most  loving  Jesus,  Pattern  of  Charity,  who  makest 

all  the  commandments  of  the  law  to  consist  in  love  toward  God  and  toward 
man,  grant  to  us  so  to  love  thee  with  all  our  heart,  and  with  all  our  mind, 
and  all  our  soul,  and  our  neighbor  for  thy  sake;  that  the  grace  of  charity  and 
brotherly  love  may  dwell  in  us,  and  all  envy,  harshness,  and  ill-will  may  die 
in  us;  and  fill  our  hearts  with  feelings  of  love,  kindness,  and  compassion,  so 
that  by  constantly  rejoicing  in  the  happiness  and  good  success  of  others,  by 
sympathy  with  them  in  their  sorrows,  and  putting  away  all  harsh  judgments 
and  envious  thoughts,  we  may  follow  thee,  who  art  thyself  the  true  and 
perfect  love.”  Amen. 


•268 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  26 


lEUgiiStance  to  'JEemptation 

Pettfe  fot  tlje  2Dap:  “  Resist  the  devil,  and  he  will  flee  from  you.” — 
James  4.  7* 

1Lt$$on  tot  tfieSDap:  James  1.  12—18. 

12  Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation;  for  when 
he  hath  been  approved,  he  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life,  which 
the  Lord  promised  to  them  that  love  him.  13  Let  no  man  say  when 
he  is  tempted,  I  am  tempted  of  God;  for  God  cannot  be  tempted 
with  evil,  and  he  himself  tempteth  no  man:  14  but  each  man  is 
tempted,  when  he  is  drawn  away  by  his  own  lust,  and  enticed. 
15  Then  the  lust,  when  it  hath  conceived,  beareth  sin:  and  the  sin, 
when  it  is  full  grown,  bringeth  forth  death.  16  Be  not  deceived, 
my  beloved  brethren.  17  Every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift 
is  from  above,  coming  down  from  the  Father  of  lights,  with  whom 
can  be  no  variation,  neither  shadow  that  is  cast  by  turning.  18  Of 
his  own  will  he  brought  us  forth  by  the  word  of  truth,  that  we 
should  be  a  kind  of  first  fruits  of  his  creatures. 


“When  I’m  tempted  to  do  wrong, 

Make  me  steadfast,  wise  and  strong; 

And  when  all  alone  I  stand 
Shield  me  with  thy  mighty  hand.” 

“Why  comes  temptation  but  for  man  to  meet 
And  master,  and  make  crouch  beneath  his  foot, 

And  so  be  pedestaled  in  triumph?  Pray 
‘Lead  us  into  no  such  temptations,  Lord!’ 

Yea,  but,  O  thou  whose  servants  are  the  bold, 

Lead  such  temptations  by  the  hand  and  hair, 

Reluctant  dragons,  up  to  who  dares  fight, 

That  so  he  may  do  battle  and  have  praise.” 

— Robert  Browning. 


(Ot  tf)t  “O  Almighty  God,  the  Father  of  mercies,  source  of 

holiness,  the  fountain  of  strength,  grant  us  power  to  resist  and  overcome  all 
temptations,  and  to  guard  against  all  dangers,  that  we  may  not  be  the  slaves 
of  accident  or  violence,  of  interest  or  passion,  of  fear  or  desire.  We  are 
encompassed  by  infirmities,  surrounded  by  many  dangerous  allurements;  our 
hearts  are  deceitful,  our  passions  awake,  our  duties  are  many  and  difficult, 
and  our  resolutions  weak.  O  be  thou  unto  us  as  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanc¬ 
tification,  and  redemption.  Thou  hast  promised  thy  Spirit  to  those  who  seek 
it.  Grant  that  it  may  dwell  with  us;  instruct,  support,  and  encourage  us  in 
holiness,  resignation,  and  every  Christian  virtue,  that  we,  being  prepared  for 
every  good  work,  may  grow  to  that  full  measure  of  the  stature  and  fullness 
of  thee,  our  Saviour.  Grant  that  our  infirmities  may  be  fewer  and  our  graces 
stronger,  so  that  we  may  walk  steadfastly,  .  .  .  and  finally  through  the 

merits  and  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ  attain  to  that  heavenly  kingdom  where 
is  fullness  of  joy  and  pleasure  forevermore.”  Amen. — Mrs.  Cornwallis. 


26g 


OBEDIENCE  SEPTEMBER  27 

25dno;  Mot  Contormrt*  to  'Ctji#  dCloclb 


tot  tjt  “And  be  not  conformed  to  this  world:  but  be  ye 

transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your  mind.” — Romans  12.  2  (King  James 
version) . 

JLt&$0\\  tot  tlje  2Dap:  1  John  2.  14-17. 

14  I  have  written  unto  you,  fathers,  because  ye  know  him  who 
is  from  the  beginning.  I  have  written  unto  you,  young  men,  be¬ 
cause  ye  are  strong,  and  the  word  of  God  abideth  in  you,  and  ye 
have  overcome  the  evil  one.  15  Love  not  the  world,  neither  the 
things  that  are  in  the  world.  If  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love 
of  the  Father  is  not  in  him.  16  For  all  that  is  in  the  world,  the 
lust  of  the  flesh  and  the  lust  of  the  eyes  and  the  vainglory  of  life, 
is  not  of  the  Father,  but  is  of  the  world.  17  And  the  world  passeth 
away,  and  the  lust  thereof:  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of  God 
abideth  forever. 


“Are  we  assimilating  his  mind,  his  way  of  looking  at  things,  his  judgments,  his 
spirit?  Is  the  Christ-conscience  being  developed  in  us?  Have  we  an  increasing  interest 
in  the  things  which  interest  him,  an  increasing  love  of  the  things  that  he  loves,  an  in¬ 
creasing  desire  to  serve  the  purposes  he  has  at  heart?  ‘Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  what¬ 
soever  1  command  you,’  is  the  test  by  which  we  can  try  ourselves.” — Hugh  Black. 

“Life  is  what  we  are  alive  to.  To  be  alive  only  to  appetite,  pleasure,  pride,  money¬ 
making,  and  not  to  goodness  and  kindness,  purity  and  love,  history,  poetry,  music, 
flowers,  stars,  God,  and  eternal  hopes,  it  is  to  be  almost  dead.” 

“They  ‘who  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,’  whose  consciousness  will  not 
let  them  rest,  who  seek  after  a  better  standard  of  right  and  wrong,  truth  and  falsehood, 
purity  and  impurity,  justice  and  injustice,  than  they  find  in  the  world  around  them;  to 
whom  justice  is  a  positive  joy,  and  injustice  a  deep  and  rankling  grief;  who  long  with  the 
longing  of  the  psalmist,  in  a  dry  and  thirsty  land,  to  be  better  themselves,  and  to  make 
others  better  also — these  ‘shall  be  satisfied.’  ” — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 

pt aytz  tot  tt}c  j&Dag:  “  O  thou  great  Companion  of  our  souls,  do  thou 
go  with  us  to-day  and  comfort  us  with  the  sense  of  thy  presence  in  the  hours 
of  spiritual  desolation.  Give  us  a  single  eye  for  duty.  Guide  us  by  the  voice 
within.  May  we  take  heed  of  all  the  judgments  of  men  and  gather  patiently 
whatever  truth  they  hold,  but  teach  us  still  to  test  them  by  the  words  and 
the  Spirit  of  the  One  who  alone  is  our  Master.  May  we  not  be  so  wholly  of 
one  mind  with  the  life  that  now  is  that  the  world  can  fully  approve  us,  but 
may  we  speak  the  higher  truth  and  live  the  purer  righteousness  which  thou 
hast  revealed  to  us.  If  men  speak  well  of  us,  may  we  not  be  puffed  up;  if 
they  slight  us,  may  we  not  be  cast  down ;  remembering  the  words  of  our 
Master  who  bade  us  rejoice  when  men  speak  evil  against  us  and  tremble 
if  all  speak  well,  that  we  may  have  evidence  that  we  are  still  soldiers  of 
God.”  Amen. — W alter  Raus chenbusch  (1861—1918). 


270 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  28 


d5oti*£ 

fDt  tf)C  “Fear  not,  for  I  have  redeemed  thee;  I  have  called 

thee  by  thy  name,  thou  art  mine.” — Isaiah  43.  1. 

2le$»£0n  for  tjje  2Dap:  Isaiah  43.  10-13. 

10  Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  Jehovah,  and  my  servant  whom 
I  have  chosen;  that  ye  may  know  and  believe  me,  and  understand 
that  I  am  he :  before  me  there  was  no  God  formed,  neither  shall 
there  be  after  me.  11  I,  even  I,  am  Jehovah;  and  besides  me 
there 'is  no  saviour.  12  I  have  declared,  and  I  have  saved,  and  I 
have  showed;  and  there  was  no  strange  god  among  you:  therefore 
ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  Jehovah,  and  I  am  God.  13  Yea,  since 
the  day  was  I  am  he;  and  there  is  none  that  can  deliver  out  of  my 
hand:  I  will  work,  and  who  can  hinder  it? 


“His  testimony  all  the  time  is  sure; 

The  smallest  star  that  keepeth  in  the  night 
His  silver  candle  bright, 

And  every  deed  of  good  that  anywhere 
Maketh  the  hands  of  holy  women  white; 

All  sweet  religious  work,  all  earnest  prayer 
Of  uttered  or  unutterable  speech; 

Whatever  things  are  peaceable  and  pure, 

Whatever  things  are  right — 

These  are  his  witnesses,  ay,  all  and  each.” 

— Alice  Cary. 

“How  is  it,”  said  the  cloud  to  the  evening  star,  “that  while  the  sun  is  here  you  are 
but  a  faint  vaporlike  spot  on  the  clear,  blue  sky,  but  no  sooner  is  he  gone  than  you  shine 
out  with  a  splendor  that  fringes  us  with  silver  as  we  pass  by?” 

“It  is  thus,”  said  the  star:  “when  the  source  of  all  my  glory  is  present,  what  need 
is  there  that  I  should  testify  to  his  light?  It  is  when  he  is  absent  that  I  gratefully  pour 
forth  the  rays  I  have  received  from  him,  showing  to  all  how  glorious  he  must  be  from 
whom  they  first  issued.” — Author  Unknown. 

tot  tj)e  O  God,  the  everlasting  Father,  thou  who  art  never 

far  from  any  one  of  thy  children,  we  lift  up  our  hearts  unto  thee.  Receive 
our  thanksgiving  and  hear  us  while  we  pray.  For  life  and  strength,  for  the 
comfort  and  shelter  of  this  house,  for  the  love  that  binds  us  to  one  another 
and  to  thee,  we  give  thee  thanks.  Strengthen  and  guard  us  by  thy  grace, 
make  us  to  know  the  way  wherein  we  should  walk.  We  too  would  be  thy 
witnesses.  We  would  hear  thy  voice  speaking  unto  us,  owning  us  as  thine 
and  directing  our  paths,  that  we  may  do  thy  will  and  service.  We  commend 
to  thee  our  neighbors  and  our  friends,  our  church  and  our  community,  our 
state  and  our  nation.  Guide  by  thy  counsel  all  who  are  enlisted  in  thy 
service.  Purify  and  enrich  thy  church.  Establish  our  nation  in  righteous¬ 
ness  and  in  the  fear  of  God.  Give  power  to  the  preaching  of  thy  word,  and 
to  the  teaching  of  thy  truth  throughout  the  world.  So  may  thy  kingdom 
come,  thy  will  be  done  in  all  the  earth.  Amen. 


271 


OBEDIENCE 


SEPTEMBER  29 

SDofng  tf\t  Oftlork  of  C5oti 


Cot  tf)£  “I  glorified  thee  on  the  earth,  having  accomplished 

the  work  which  thou  hast  given  me  to  do.” — John  17.  4. 

2U£g>on  Cottle  2Dap:  John  4.  30-35* 

30  They  went  out  of  the  city,  and  were  coming  to  him.  31  In 
the  meanwhile  the  disciples  prayed  him,  saying,  Rabbi,  eat.  32  But 
he  said  unto  them,  I  have  meat  to  eat  that  ye  know  not.  33  The 
disciples  therefore  said  one  to  another,  Hath  any  man  brought  him 
aught  to  eat?  34  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  My  meat  is  to  do  the  will 
of  him  that  sent  me,  and  to  accomplish  his  work.  35  Say  not  ye, 
There  are  yet  four  months,  and  then  cometh  the  harvest?  behold,  I 
say  unto  you,  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  look  on  the  fields,  that  they 
are  white  already  unto  harvest. 

“They  are  doing  the  work  of  the  Lord  who  sweep  a  floor,  or  guide  a  plow,  or  sit  over 
a  desk,  with  a  desire  so  to  do  their  work  that  God  may  thereby  be  glorified.  All  work 
done  from  such  motives,  and  for  such  an  end,  becomes  the  work  of  the  Lord;  and  thus  our 
life,  in  all  its  phases,  entirely  spent  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  should  flow  on  like  a  river, 
which,  however  rough  its  bed,  short  or  long  its  course,  tame  or  grand  the  scene  through 
which  it  passes,  springs  from  a  lofty  mountain,  and,  born  of  the  skies,  bears  blessings  in 
its  waters,  and  heaven  reflected  in  its  bosom.” — Thomas  Guthrie. 

y&ZSLytt  Cot  ifyz  SDagt  O  Lord,  our  God  and  Father,  every  new  day  is 
an  invitation  to  thy  service;  may  we  hear  thy  voice  in  each  opportunity  we 
have  for  doing  good.  Our  work  is  thy  gift;  we  thank  thee  for  it  and  for 
the  knowledge  and  strength  that  makes  us  able  to  do  it.  May  we  be  con¬ 
scientious  and  thorough  in  everything,  so  that  all  we  do  may  be  done  well. 
May  we  have  a  strong  and  constant  purpose  to  accomplish  the  work  which 
thou  hast  given  us  to  do.  May  it  be  our  highest  desire  to  do  the  will  of 
God.  We  pray  for  those  who  are  unemployed  because  they  cannot  find  work; 
and  for  those  who  are  idle  because  of  sickness,  accident,  or  distress.  May  the 
causes  of  these  troubles  be  more  and  more  removed ;  especially  do  thou  give 
thy  blessing  to  all  those,  thy  servants,  who  labor  to  do  away  with  the  causes 
of  unemployment  and  of  all  undue  risk  and  uncertainty  in  industry.  Hear 
us  in  these  our  prayers  for  Jesus’  sake.  Amen. 


272 


OBEDIENCE  SEPTEMBER  30 

SDOtng  (Bob’sS  MUU  Ho-tsat 

to t  tl)f  2D0J!  “I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God.” — Psalm 
40.  8. 

1Lt6$on  tor  tfjc  2Dag:  James  4.  13-15. 

13  Come  now,  ye  that  say,  To-day  or  to-morrow  we  will  go 
into  this  city,  and  spend  a  year  there,  and  trade,  and  get  gain: 
14  whereas  ye  know  not  what  shall  be  on  the  morrow.  What  is  your 
life?  For  ye  are  a  vapor  that  appeareth  for  a  little  time,  and  then 
vanisheth  away.  15  For  that  ye  ought  to  say,  If  the  Lord  will,  we 
shall  both  live,  and  do  this  or  that. 


“Cheered  by  the  presence  of  God,  I  will  do  at  each  moment,  without  anxiety, 
according  to  the  strength  which  he  shall  give  me,  the  work  that  his  providence  assigns 
me.  I  will  leave  the  rest  without  concern;  it  is  not  my  affair.  I  ought  to  consider  the 
duty  to  which  I  am  called  each  day  as  the  work  that  God  has  given  me  to  do,  and  to 
apply  myself  to  it  in  a  manner  worthy  of  his  glory — that  is  to  say,  with  exactness  and  in 
peace.” — Fenelon . 

“Thy  will,  O  God,  is  joy  to  me, 

A  gladsome  thing; 

For  in  it  naught  but  love  I  see 
Whate’er  it  bring. 

“Within  the  circle  of  thy  will 
All  things  abide; 

So  I,  exulting,  find  no  ill 
When  thou  dost  guide. 

“In  that  resplendent  will  of  thine 
I  calmly  rest; 

Tri  umphantly  I  make  it  mine, 

And  count  it  best.” 

— James  Mudge. 

Prayer  for  tjje  2Day:  “  Eternal  God,  who  committest  to  us  the  swift  and 
solemn  trust  of  life;  since  we  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth,  but 
only  that  the  hour  for  serving  thee  is  always  present,  may  we  wake  to  the 
instant  claims  of  thy  holy  will,  not  waiting  for  to-morrow,  but  yielding  to¬ 
day.  Consecrate  with  thy  presence  the  way  our  feet  may  go,  and  the  hum¬ 
blest  work  will  shine,  and  the  roughest  place  be  made  plain.  Lift  us  above 
unrighteous  anger  and  mistrust,  into  faith,  and  hope,  and  charity,  by  a  simple 
and  steadfast  reliance  on  thy  sure  will.  In  all  things  draw  us  to  the  mind 
of  Christ,  that  thy  lost  image  may  be  traced  again,  and  thou  mayest  own  us 
as  at  one  with  him  and  thee,  to  the  glory  of  thy  great  Name.”  Amen. — 
James  Martineau  (1805-1900). 


273 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  i 


l&uting;  Our  Oton 


H>n^e  for  tl)e  2Dap: 


“He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty; 
And  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit,  than  he  that  taketh 
a  city.” 

— Proverbs  16.  32. 


3Lt&&on  for  tlje  Soap:  i  Peter  i.  13-19. 


13  Wherefore  girding  up  the  loins  of  your  mind,  be  sober  and 
set  your  hope  perfectly  on  the  grace  that  is  to  be  brought  unto 
you  at  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ;  14  as  children  of  obedience, 
not  fashioning  yourselves  according  to  your  former  lusts  in  the 
time  of  your  ignorance;  15  but  like  as  he  who  called  you  is  holy, 
be  ye  yourselves  also  holy  in  all  manner  of  living;  16  because  it 
it  written,  Ye  shall  be  holy;  for  I  am  holy.  17  And  if  ye  call  on 
him  as  Father,  who  without  respect  of  persons  judgeth  according 
to  each  man’s  work,  pass  the  time  of  your  sojourning  in  fear:  18 
knowing  that  ye  were  redeemed,  not  with  corruptible  things,  with 
silver  or  gold,  from  your  vain  manner  of  life  handed  down  from 
your  fathers;  19  but  with  precious  blood,  as  of  a  lamb  without 
blemish  and  without  spot,  even  the  blood  of  Christ. 


“What  can  be  more  unkind  than  to  communicate  our  low  spirits  to  others,  to  go 
about  the  world  like  demons,  poisoning  the  fountains  of  joy?  Have  I  more  light  because 
I  have  managed  to  involve  those  I  love  in  the  same  gloom  as  myself?  Is  it  not  pleasant 
to  see  the  sun  shining  on  the  mountains,  even  though  we  have  none  of  it  down  in  our 
valley?  Oh,  the  littleness  and  the  meanness  of  that  sickly  appetite  for  sympathy,  which 
will  not  let  us  keep  our  sorrows  to  ourselves!  Let  us  hide  our  pains  and  sorrows.  But, 
while  we  hide  them,  let  them  also  be  spurs  within  us  to  urge  us  on  to  all  manner  of  over¬ 
flowing  kindness  and  sunny  humor  to  those  around  us.  When  the  very  darkness  within 
us  creates  a  sunshine  around  us,  then  has  the  spirit  of  Jesus  taken  possession  of  our 
souls.” — Frederick  W.  Faber. 

Pmprc  tot  tfje  2Dap:  “  O  Lord,  lift  up  the  light  of  thy  countenance  upon 
us;  let  thy  peace  rule  our  hearts;  and  may  it  be  our  strength  and  our  song 
in  the  course  of  our  pilgrimage.  We  commit  ourselves  to  thy  care  and 
keeping.  Let  thy  grace  be  mighty  in  us,  and  may  it  work  both  to  will  and 
to  do  of  thy  good  pleasure;  and  grant  us  strength  for  all  the  duties  of  the 
day.  Keep  us  from  sin;  give  us  the  rule  over  our  oivn  spirits ;  and  keep  us 
from  speaking  unadvisedly  with  our  lips.  May  we  live  together  in  peace 
and  holy  love,  and  do  thou  command  thy  blessing  upon  us,  even  life  forever¬ 
more.  Give  us  grace  to  deny  ourselves;  to  take  up  our  cross  daily,  and  to 
follow  in  the  steps  of  our  Lord  and  Master.”  Amen. — Matthew  Henry 
(1672-1714). 


274 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  2 


putting  €>u i 


Petgte  fot  tty  SDag: 
%e&$on  tot  tty  2Dap: 


“If  iniquity  be  in  thy  hand,  put  it  far  away, 

And  let  not  unrighteousness  dwell  in  thy  tents.” 

— Job  II.  14. 


Ephesians  4.  17—24. 


17  This  I  say  therefore,  and  testify  in  the  Lord,  that  ye  no 
longer  walk  as  the  Gentiles  also  walk,  in  the  vanity  of  their  mind, 
18  being  darkened  in  their  understanding,  alienated  from  the  life 
of  God,  because  of  the  ignorance  that  is  in  them,  because  of  the 
hardening  of  their  heart;  19  who  being  past  feeling  gave  them¬ 
selves  up  to  lasciviousness,  to  work  all  uncleanness  with  greediness. 
20  But  ye  did  not  so  learn  Christ;  21  if  so  be  that  ye  heard  him, 
and  were  taught  in  him,  even  as  truth  is  in- Jesus:  22  that  ye  put 
away,  as  concerning  your  former  manner  of  life,  the  old  man,  that 
waxeth  corrupt  after  the  lusts  of  deceit;  23  and  that  ye  be  renewed 
in  the  spirit  of  your  mind,  24  and  put  on  the  new  man,  that  after 
God  hath  been  created  in  righteousness  and  holiness  of  truth. 


“Who  hath  a  greater  combat  than  he  that  laboreth  to  overcome  himself?” — Thomas 
a  Kempis. 

“When  you  say:  ‘Lead  us  not  into  temptation,’  you  must  in  good  earnest  mean 
to  avoid  in  your  daily  conduct  those  temptations  which  you  have  already  suffered  from. 
When  you  say  ‘Deliver  us  from  evil,’  you  must  mean  to  struggle  against  that  evil  in 
your  hearts,  which  you  are  conscious  of,  and  which  you  pray  to  be  forgiven.” — J.  H. 
Newman. 


“Do  not  keep  company  with  any  sin.  It  may  surprise  thee  as  an  enemy  some¬ 
times,  but  let  it  not  lodge  with  thee  as  a  friend.” — Archbishop  Leighton. 

fot  tty  “Almighty  and  merciful  God,  the  Fountain  of  all 

goodness,  who  knowest  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts,  we  confess  unto  thee  that 
we  have  sinned  against  thee  and  done  evil  in  thy  sight.  Wash  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  from  the  stains  of  our  past  sins,  and  give  us  grace  and  power  to  put 
away  all  hurtful  things ,  so  that,  being  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  sin,  we 
may  bring  forth  worthy  fruits  of  repentance.  O  Eternal  Light  shine  into 
our  hearts.  O  Eternal  Goodness,  deliver  us  from  evil.  O  Eternal  Power, 
be  thou  our  support.  Eternal  Wisdom,  scatter  the  darkness  of  our  ignorance. 
Eternal  Pity,  have  mercy  upon  us.  Grant  unto  us,  that  with  all  our  hearts, 
and  minds,  and  strength,  we  may  evermore  sjeek  thy  face;  and  finally,  bring 
us,  in  thine  infinite  mercy,  to  thy  holy  presence.  So  strengthen  our  weak¬ 
ness  that,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  thy  blessed  Son,  we  may  obtain  thy 
mercy  and  enter  into  thy  promised  joy;  through  the  same  Jesus  Christ,  our 
only  Saviour  and  Redeemer.” — F.  A.  Alcuinus  (735-804). 


275 


OBEDIENCE  OCTOBER  3 

Ptapet  a£  a  9?ean£  of  lettuce 

(Ot  t fjt  SDa^t  “Unceasingly  I  make  mention  of  you,  always  in 
my  prayers. ” — Romans  1.  9. 

(DC  tfje  SDa^:  Matthew  9.  35-38. 

35  And  Jesus  went  about  all  the  cities  and  the  villages,  teach¬ 
ing  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom, 
and  healing  all  manner  of  disease  and  all  manner  of  sickness.  36 
But  when  he  saw  the  multitudes,  he  was  moved  with  compassion 
for  them,  because  they  were  distressed  and  scattered,  as  sheep  not 
having  a  shepherd.  37  Then  saith  he  unto  his  disciples,  The  har¬ 
vest  indeed  is  plenteous,  but  the  laborers  are  few.  38  Pray  ye 
therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  send  forth  laborers  into 
his  harvest. 


“Prayer  was  to  Christ  the  means,  not  only  of  helping  individuals,  but  of  dealing 
with  intricate  social  problems.  When  he  had  been  healing  and  teaching  in  the  cities  of 
Galilee,  and  was  moved  with  compassion  for  the  distressed  multitudes,  he  saw  with 
deeper  insight  than  his  disciples,  that  the  real  difficulty  was  not  with  the  multitudes: 
‘The  harvest  indeed  is  plenteous,  but  the  laborers  are  few.’  For  this  reason  he  turned  to 
the  fundamental  lack,  commanding:  ‘Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that 
he  send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest.’  This  diagnosis  is  correct  for  the  world  to-day; 
this  remedy  applies  to  all  social  disorders.  Christ  goes  to  the  heart  of  present  problems 
when  he  calls  his  disciples  to  pray  for  laborers  who  share  his  spirit  and  who  will  employ 
his  methods.” 

Ptapet  (DC  tf)C  Soap;  “Almighty  God,  who  by  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ  didst 
give  commandment  to  the  holy  apostles  that  they  should  go  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,  grant  to  us  whom  thou  hast  called 
to  follow  thee,  a  ready  will  to  obey  thy  Word,  and  fill  us  with  a  hearty  desire 
to  make  thy  way  known  upon  earth,  thy  saving  health  among  all  nations. 
Look  with  compassion  upon  all  who  are  living  without  thee,  and  on  the  mul¬ 
titudes  who  even  in  this  land  are  scattered  abroad  as  sheep  having  no  shepherd, 
or  who  in  strange  lands  are  far  from  the  church  of  their  fathers.  Visit  them 
with  thy  salvation.  O  heavenly  Father,  Lord  of  the  harvest,  have  respect, 
we  beseech  thee,  to  these  our  prayers,  and  send  forth  laborers  into  thy 
harvest.  Fit  and  prepare  them  by  thy  grace  for  the  work  of  their  ministry. 
Give  them  the  spirit  of  power,  and  of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind.  Strengthen 
them  to  endure  hardness,  and  grant  that  both  by  their  life  and  doctrine  they 
may  set  forth  thy  glory  and  set  forward  the  salvation  of  all  men ;  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Prayer  Book  of  the  Church  of  Ireland , 
1877. 


276 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  4 

Hiking  M  flDne'g  75e0 1 


(Ot  tj)0  2D&yt  “Ye  therefore  shall  be  perfect,  as  your  heavenly 
Father  is  perfect.” — Matthew  5.  48. 

JLt$&on  tor  tljeSDay:  2  Peter  1.  5-11. 

5  Yea,  and  for  this  very  cause  adding  on  your  part  all  dili¬ 
gence,  in  your  faith  supply  virtue;  and  in  your  virtue  knowledge; 
6  and  in  your  knowledge  self-control;  and  in  your  self-control  pa¬ 
tience;  and  in  your  patience  godliness;  7  and  in  your  godliness 
brotherly  kindness,  and  in  your  brotherly  kindness  love.  8  For  if 
these  things  are  yours  and  abound,  they  make  you  to  be  not  idle  nor 
unfruitful  unto  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  9  For  he 
that  lacketh  these  things  is  blind,  seeing  only  what  is  near,  having 
forgotten  the  cleansing  from  his  old  sins.  10  Wherefore,  brethren, 
give  the  more  diligence  to  make  your  calling  and  election  sure:  for 
if  ye  do  these  things,  ye  shall  never  stumble:  11  for  thus  shall  be 
richly  supplied  unto  you  the  entrance  into  the  eternal  kingdom  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 


“There  is  only  one  real  failure  in  life  possible;  and  that  is  not  to  be  true  to  the  best 
one  knows.” — Frederick  W.  Farrar. 


“  ‘Am  I  really  what  I  ought  to  be?  Am  I  what,  in  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  I  honestly 
wish  to  be?  Am  I  living  at  my  best?  My  secret  nature,  the  true  complexion  of  my 
character,  is  hidden  from  all  men,  and  only  I  know  it.  Is  it  such  as  I  should  be  willing 
to  show?  Is  my  soul  at  all  like  what  my  kindest  and  most  intimate  friends  believe? 
Is  my  heart  at  all  such  as  I  should  wish  the  Searcher  of  Hearts  to  judge  me  by?  Is 
every  year  adding  to  my  devotion,  to  my  unselfishness,  to  my  conscientiousness,  to  my 
freedom  from  the  hypocrisy  of  seeming  so  much  better  than  I  am?  When  I  compare 
myself  with  last  year,  am  I  more  ready  to  surrender  myself  at  the  call  of  duty?  am  I 
more  alive  to  the  commands  of  conscience?  have  I  shaken  off  my  besetting  sins?’  These 
are  the  questions  which  we  ought  to  be  putting  fairly  and  honestly  to  our  hearts.” — 
Frederick  Temple. 


prayer  (or  tije  SDay:  “  O  God,  when  we  remember  our  thoughtless  lives, 
our  low  desires,  our  impatient  temper,  our  ungoverned  wills,  we  know  that 
thou  hast  left  us  without  excuse.  .  .  .  We  are  not  our  own,  and  are 

ashamed  to  have  lived  unto  ourselves.  Thou  hast  formed  us  for  thy  service 
and  we  must  hide  our  face  that  we  have  shrunk  from  the  glorious  hardships 
of  our  task,  and  slumbered  on  our  holy  watch.  Our  daily  work  has  not 
been  wrought  as  in  thy  sight;  and  we  have  not  made  the  outgoings  of  the 
morning  and  the  evening  to  praise  thee.  The  trials  of  our  patience  we  have 
received  as  earthly  pains  of  nature,  not  as  the  heavenly  discipline  of  faith ; 
and  the  fullness  of  our  bounties  has  come  to  us  as  a  dead  comfort,  not  as 
the  quickening  touch  of  thy  everlasting  love.  O  our  true  and  only  God !  we 
have  lived  in  a  bondage  of  the  world  that  giveth  no  content;  and  the  passions 
we  serve  are  as  strange  idols  that  cannot  deliver.  Awake,  awake,  O  Arm 
of  the  Lord !  and  burst  our  bonds  in  sunder ;  and  help  the  spirit  that  struggles 
within  us  to  turn  unto  thee  with  a  pure  heart,  and  serve  thee  in  newness  of 
spirit.”  Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805-1900). 

277 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  5 


ft  ItidlglOUSi  polite 


(or  tfje  Soap; 


“Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go, 

And  even  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  depart  from 

v  yy 

it. 

— Proverbs  22.  6. 


fOE  tf)C  Deuteronomy  6.  4-9. 


4  Hear,  O  Israel:  Jehovah  our  God  is  one  Jehovah:  5  and 
thou  shalt  love  Jehovah  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  might.  6  And  these  words,  which  I 
command  thee  this  day,  shall  be  upon  thy  heart;  7  and  thou  shalt 
teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and  shalt  talk  of  them 
when  thou  sittest  in  thy  house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by  the 
way,  and  when  thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up.  8  And 
thou  shalt  bind  them  for  a  sign  upon  thy  hand,  and  they  shall  be 
for  frontlets  between  thine  eyes.  9  And  thou  shalt  write  them  upon 
the  door-posts  of  thy  house,  and  upon  thy  gates. 


“I  cannot  flow  name  any  time,  day,  or  place  when  I  was  converted.  It  was  my 
faithful  mother’s  steady  and  constant  influence  that  led  me  gradually  along,  and  I 
grew  into  a  religious  life  under  her  potent  training,  and  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
working  through  her  agency.  I  feel  now  that  the  happy  fifty-six  years  that  I  have 
spent  in  the  glorious  ministry  of  the  gospel  of  redemption  is  the  direct  outcome  of  that 
beloved  mother’s  prayers,  teaching,  example,  and  holy  influence.” — Theodore  Cuyler. 


“The  sweetest  memories  of  our  lives  cluster  about  the  scenes  of  family  life.  The 
rose-embowered  cottage  of  the  poet  is  not  the  only  spot  that  claims  affection  and  grat¬ 
itude.  Wherever  it  may  have  been,  if  it  sheltered  love  and  held  a  shrine  where  the 
altar  fires  of  family  sacrifice  burned,  earth  has  no  fairer  or  more  sacred  spot.” — Henry 
F.  Cope. 

for  tjje  £>ap:  “  O  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father,  by  whose  mercy  we 

are  enabled  to  meet  together  in  this  our  family  circle,  we  would  offer  unto 
thee  our  united  prayer  and  praise.  We  thank  thee  for  thy  word,  for  the 
privilege  of  worship,  and  for  all  the  means  which  thou  hast  appointed  for  our 
spiritual  instruction  and  the  attainment  of  wisdom  and  righteousness  and 
eternal  life.  Help  us,  that  we  may  ever  hold  in  sacred  remembrance  thy 
counsel  to  thy  people  of  old.  Thy  commandments  would  we  hide  in  our 
hearts;  upon  them  would  we  meditate  from  day  to  day;  by  them  would  we 
be  governed,  and  to  others  would  we  commend  them.  Bless  us  now,  we 
beseech  thee,  as  we  bow  before  thee  as  a  family.  Enable  us  to  worship  thee 
in  spirit  and  in  truth.  Grant  that  thy  word,  taught  in  its  purity,  may  be 
received  in  humble  and  willing  hearts.  May  thy  words  so  abide  in  us  that 
we  may  abide  in  thee.  Awaken  and  strengthen  in  us  a  more  enduring  inter¬ 
est  in  what  is  spiritual  and  eternal  and  a  deeper  and  truer  love  for  thee  and 
for  our  fellow  men.  Grant  that  our  precious  heritage  of  the  knowledge  and 
the  love  of  God  may  be  handed  down  by  us  to  our  children  and  to  our 
children’s  children.”  Amen. 


278 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  6 


keeping  <0ttt  Ifea zt&  CUitt)  #11  ^Diligence 


fOE  “Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence; 

For  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life.” 

— Proverbs  4.  23. 


for  tfjeSDap:  Proverbs  3.  1-6. 


1  My  son,  forget  not  my  law; 

But  let  thy  heart  keep  my  commandments: 

2  For  length  of  days,  and  years  of  life, 

And  peace,  will  they  add  to  thee. 

3  Let  not  kindness  and  truth  forsake  thee: 

Bind  them  about  thy  neck; 

Write  them  upon  the  tablet  of  thy  heart: 

4  So  shalt  thou  find  favor  and  good  understanding 
In  the  sight  of  God  and  man. 

5  Trust  in  Jehovah  with  all  thy  heart, 

And  lean  not  upon  thine  own  understanding: 

6  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him, 

And  he  will  direct  thy  paths. 


“The  only  failure  a  man  ought  to  fear  is  failure  in  cleaving  to  the  purpose  he  sees 
to  be  best.” — George  Eliot. 

“All  thoughts  of  ill;  all  evil  deeds, 

That  have  their  root  in  thoughts  of  ill; 

Whatever  hinders  or  impedes 
The  noble  action  of  the  will — 

All  these  must  first  be  trampled  down 
Beneath  our  feet,  if  we  would  gain 
In  the  bright  fields  of  fair  renown 
The  right  of  eminent  domain. 

We  have  not  wings,  we  cannot  soar; 

But  we  have  feet  to  scale  and  climb 
By  slow  degrees,  by  more  and  more, 

The  cloudy  summits  of  our  time. 

— Henry  W.  Longfellow. 

for  t!)e  2Da$:  “  O  Lord,  our  God,  teach  us,  we  pray  thee,  the 

great  forces  there  are  in  Christ’s  gospel  to  assist  those  who  strive  to  overcome 
their  sins.  Make  us  to  search  our  hearts  diligently,  knowing  the  great  issues 
of  life  do  all  go  forth  from  them.  Save  us  from  all  false  notions  of  our 
duties;  especially  save  us  from  measuring  our  own  duties  by  our  neighbors’ 
shortcomings.  Save  us  from  that  unprofitabe  state  of  conscience  which  would 
lead  us  to  suppose  that  because  others  are  doing  evil  we  are  excused  from 
obeying  the  truth  and  walking  in  the  paths  of  holiness.  Grant  that  we  may 
look  to  our  own  eyes  rather  than  to  the  eyes  of  others.  Help  us  to  root  out 
the  pestilent  habit  of  constantly  intermeddling  with  the  sins  and  doings  of 
others,  which  turning  us  into  Pharisees,  hides  from  us  the  blessed  thoughts 
of  God,  because  we  are  only  contemplating  evil.  Do  thou  help  us  when  thou 
seest  help  is  needed;  teach  us  to  keep  our  hearts  with  all  diligence,  at  all 
times,  because  out  of  them  are  the  issues  of  life.  Hear  these,  our  prayers, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

279 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  7 

fepmt  ot 


$£££»£  (0t  tf)£  SDftJU  “But  thou,  O  man  of  God,  .  .  .  follow  after 

righteousness,  godliness,  faith,  love,  patience,  meekness.” — I  Timothy  6.  n. 

(or  tf)t  2Dag:  James  3.  13—18. 

13  Who  is  wise  and  understanding  among  you?  let  him  show 
by  his  good  life  his  works  in  meekness  of  wisdom.  14  But  if  ye 
have  bitter  jealousy  and  faction  in  your  heart,  glory  not  and  lie 
not  against  the  truth.  15  This  wisdom  is  not  a  wisdom  that  cometh 
down  from  above,  but  is  earthly,  sensual,  devilish.  16  For  where 
jealousy  and  faction  are,  there  is  confusion  and  every  vile  deed. 
17  But  the  wisdom  that  is  from  above  is  first  pure,  then  peaceable, 
gentle,  easy  to  be  entreated,  full  of  mercy  and  good  fruits,  with¬ 
out  variance,  without  hypocrisy.  18  And  the  fruit  of  righteous¬ 
ness  is  sown  in  peace  for  them  that  make  peace. 


“God  doth  not  need 

Either  man’s  works  or  his  own  gifts;  who  best 
Bear  his  mild  yoke,  they  serve  him  best.  His  state 
Is  kingly;  thousands  at  his  bidding  speed 
And  post  o’er  land  and  ocean  without  rest: 

They  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait.” 

— John  Milton. 

“It  is  hard  work  sometimes  to  pocket  our  pride,  and  stand  being  scolded  and  snub¬ 
bed  without  resenting  it  angrily.  God  knows  all  that,  and  ‘he  resisteth  the  proud  and 
giveth  grace  to  the  humble.’” — M.  E.  Briscoe. 


“The  meek,  the  disinterested,  the  unselfish,  those  who  think  little  of  themselves 
and  much  of  others — who  think  of  the  public  good  and  not  of  their  own — who  rejoice 
in  good  done,  not  by  themselves,  but  by  others,  by  those  whom  they  dislike  as  well  as 
by  those  whom  they  love — these  shall  gain  far  more  than  they  lose;  they  shall  ‘inherit 
the  earth’  and  its  fullness.’” — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 


Pta ytz  tot  ifyt  £oap:  “  O  Lord,  who  art  a  God  ready  to  pardon,  slow  to 
anger,  and  of  great  kindness,  remove  far  from  us  all  occasions  and  effects  of 
causeless  and  immoderate  anger;  all  pride  and  prejudice,  and  too  much  con¬ 
cern  for  the  things  of  this  world ;  all  intemperate  speeches  and  indecent 
passions.  Give  us,  O  God,  a  mild,  a  peaceable,  a  meek,  and  a  humble  spirit, 
that  remembering  our  own  infirmities,  we  may  bear  with  those  of  others: 
that  we  may  think  lowly  of  ourselves,  and  not  be  angry  when  others  think 
lowly  of  us ;  that  we  may  be  patient  toward  all  men ;  gentle  and  easy  to  be 
entreated,  that  God,  for  Christ’s  sake,  may  be  so  toward  us.”  Amen. — 
Thomas  Wilson  (1663-1755). 


280 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  8 

Poict  of  MItetiom 


fOC  tj)£  “For  Jehovah  giveth  wisdom; 

Out  of  his  mouth  cometh  knowledge  and  under¬ 
standing.”  — Proverbs  2.  6. 

for  tfie  2Da^:  Proverbs  8.  i-6,  IO,  II. 

1  Doth  not  wisdom  cry, 

And  understanding  put  forth  her  voice? 

2  On  the  top  of  high  places  by  the  way, 

Where  the  paths  meet,  she  standeth; 

3  Beside  the  gates,  at  the  entry  of  the  city, 

At  the  coming  in  at  the  doors,  she  crieth  aloud; 

4  Unto  you,  O  men,  I  call; 

And  my  voice  is  to  the  sons  of  men. 

5  O  ye  simple,  understand  prudence; 

And,  ye  fools,  be  of  an  understanding  heart. 

6  Hear,  for  I  will  speak  excellent  things; 

And  the  opening  of  my  lips  shall  be  right  things. 

10  Receive  my  instruction,  and  not  silver; 

And  knowledge  rather  than  choice  gold. 

11  For  wisdom  is  better  than  rubies; 

And  all  the  things  that  may  be  desired  are  not  to  be  com¬ 
pared  unto  it. 

“Wisdom  took  up  her  torch,  and  stood  in  place 
Of  frequent  concourse — stood  in  every  gate. 

By  every  way,  and  walked  in  every  street; 

And,  lifting  up  her  voice,  proclaimed:  ‘Be  wise, 

Ye  fools!  Be  of  an  understanding  heart. 

Forsake  the  wicked;  come  not  near  his  house; 

Pass  by;  make  haste;  depart,  and  turn  away. 

Me  follow— me,  whose  ways  are  pleasantness, 

Whose  paths  are  peace,  whose  end  is  perfect  joy.’  ”  — Pollok. 

“Religion,  morality,  and  knowledge  being  necessary  for  good  government  and  the 
happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  forever  be  encouraged.” 
—  The  Ordinance  of  1787. 

ptaget  tot  the  SDap:  O  God,  who  giveth  wisdom  to  men  and  from  whom 
cometh  knowledge  and  understanding,  we  pray  that  knowledge  may  be  in¬ 
creased.  Prosper  the  researches  of  science;  and  give  advancement  to  every 
useful  art.  Bless  all  those  who  teach  in  schools  and  colleges;  and  give  to  all 
scholars  and  pupils  that  wisdom  which  is  from  above.  May  our  under¬ 
standing  of  nature  be  enlarged ;  and  may  all  that  thou  givest  be  used  for  thy 
glory,  and  for  the  welfare  of  mankind.  We  look  forward  to  the  time  when 
the  darkness  of  ignorance  everywhere  shall  be  dispelled ;  when  schools  and 
institutions  of  higher  learning  shall  be  within  reach  of  all  who  thirst  for 
knowledge.  Bless  especially,  we  pray  thee,  all  schools  of  religion  and  those 
who  teach  therein.  May  thy  church  be  enabled  to  bring  the  knowledge  of 
thy  Word,  of  the  principles  of  righteous  and  holy  living  to  all.  May  there 
be  none  who  are  left  without  instruction.  Graciously  grant  unto  us  and  to 
all  thy  children  an  ever-growing  understanding  of  thy  will  and  purpose, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

281 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  9 

W&t  C5tace£  ot  a  CJttetian  mtc 


fOt  tf)C  2Da^>  “But  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long- 
suffering,  kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness,  meekness,  self-control.” — 
Galatians  5*  22,  23a. 

3Lt&$0l\  (ot  tj)C  SDag;  2  Corinthians  6.  I,  3-10, 

1  And  working  together  with  him  we  entreat  also  that  ye  re¬ 
ceive  not  the  grace  of  God  in  vain. 

3  Giving  no  occasion  of  stumbling  in  anything,  that  our  min¬ 
istration  be  not  blamed;  4  but  in  everything  commending  ourselves, 
as  ministers  of  God,  in  much  patience,  in  afflictions,  in  necessities, 
in  distresses,  5  in  stripes,  in  imprisonments,  in  tumults,  in  labors, 
in  watchings,  in  fastings;  6  in  pureness,  in  knowledge,  in  long- 
suffering,  in  kindness,  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  love  unfeigned,  7  in 
the  word  of  truth,  in  the  power  of  God;  by  the  armor  of  righteous¬ 
ness  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left,  8  by  glory  and  dishonor, 
by  evil  report  and  good  report;  as  deceivers,  and  yet  true;  9  as 
unknown,  and  yet  well  known;  as  dying,  and  behold,  we  live;  as 
chastened  and  not  killed;  10  as  sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing; 
as  poor,  yet  making  many  rich;  as  having  nothing,  and  yet  pos¬ 
sessing  all  things. 


“It  seemed  to  me  that  holiness  brought  an  inexpressible  purity,  brightness,  peace¬ 
fulness,  and  nourishment  to  the  soul;  that  it  made  the  soul  like  a  field  or  garden  of  God, 
with  all  manner  of  pleasant  flowers.” — Jonathan  Edwards. 


“A  trifling  good  action  done  for  love  of  God  is  worth  far  more  than  something  great 
in  which  love  has  a  smaller  share.  Everybody  wants  to  attain  to  conspicuous  and 
shining  virtues,  but  very  few  seek  after  the  lowly  graces,  the  thyme  and  sweet  herbs 
which  grow  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  life-giving  tree.” — Francis  de  Sales. 


“Disinterested  love  and  self-denying  service  to  our  fellow  creature  are  the  most 
acceptable  worship  we  can  offer  our  Creator.  Genuine  greatness  is  marked  by  sim¬ 
plicity,  unostentatiousness,  self-forgetfulness,  a  hearty  interest  in  others,  a  feeling  of 
brotherhood  with  the  human  family.” — William  E.  Channing. 


Pt (0t  tf)t  “Grant  thy  servants,  O  God,  to  be  set  on  fire  with 

thy  Spirit,  strengthened  by  thy  power,  illuminated  by  thy  splendor,  filled  with 
thy  grace,  and  to  go  forward  by  thine  aid.  Give  them,  O  Lord,  a  right  faith, 
perfect  love,  true  humility.  Grant,  O  Lord,  that  there  may  be  in  us  simple 
affection,  brave  patience,  preserving  obedience,  perpetual  peace,  a  pure  mind, 
a  right  and  honest  heart,  a  good  will,  a  holy  conscience,  spiritual  strength, 
a  life  unspotted  and  unblamable;  and  after  having  manfully  finished  our 
course,  may  we  be  enabled  happily  to  enter  into  thy  kingdom;  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. 


282 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  io 


^onoting  C5oti  bg  flDttt  Contmct 

Cot  tfje  SD ap;  “  Whether  therefore  ye  eat,  or  drink,  or  whatsoever 
ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.” — I  Corinthians  io.  31. 

lUggon  Cot  tljeSDap:  Titus  3.  1-7. 

1  Put  them  in  mind  to  be  in  subjection  to  rulers,  to  authorities, 
to  be  obedient,  to  be  ready  unto  every  good  work,  2  to  speak  evil 
of  no  man,  not  to  be  contentious,  to  be  gentle,  showing  all  meek¬ 
ness  toward  all  men.  3  For  we  also  once  were  foolish,  disobedient, 
deceived,  serving  divers  lusts  and  pleasures,  living  in  malice  and 
envy,  hateful,  hating  one  another.  4  But  when  the  kindness  of 
God  our  Saviour,  and  his  love  toward  man,  appeared,  5  not  by 
works  done  in  righteousness,  which  we  did  ourselves,  but  accord¬ 
ing  to  his  mercy  he  saved  us,  through  the  washing  of  regeneration 
and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  6  which  he  poured  out  upon  us 
richly,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour;  7  that,  being  justified  by 
his  grace,  we  might  be  made  heirs  according  to  the  hope  of  eternal 
life. 


“It  is  not  necessary  that  I  should  live  but  it  is  necessary  that  I  be  true.” — Martin 
Luther. 

“Teach  me  to  do  the  thing  that  pleaseth  thee; 

Thou  art  my  God,  in  thee  I  live  and  move; 

O  let  thy  loving  Spirit  lead  me  forth 

Into  the  land  of  righteousness  and  love. 

“My  highest  hope  to  be  where,  Lord,  thou  art; 

To  lose  myself  in  thee  my  richest  gain. 

To  do  thy  will  the  habit  of  my  heart, 

To  grieve  the  Spirit  my  severest  pain.” 

— John  S.  B.  Monsell. 

“  ‘Conduct  is  three  fourths  of  life.’  What  we  have  to  do  is  to  bring  the  great 
principles  of  the  gospel  to  bear  upon  our  small  duties,  and  day  by  day  to  feel  that  be¬ 
cause  we  say  that  we  have  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  therefore  we  are  bound  to  cultivate  all 
manner  of  holiness  and  purity.”' — Alexander  McLaren. 


Cot  tj)t  “O  God  our  Father,  we  would  seek  to  live  to  thy 

praise.  Help  us  that  through  all  our  days  this  purpose  may  be  strong  in 
all  our  hearts.  May  we  honor  thee  by  the  purity  of  our  purposes,  by  the  up¬ 
rightness  and  integrity  of  our  conduct,  by  the  unselfishness  and  generosity  of 
our  spirit,  and  by  our  endeavor  in  all  things  to  live  in  accord  with  the 
example  and  teaching  of  our  Lord.  While  not  slothful  in  our  daily  tasks, 
may  we  be  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord.  We  pray  that  in  our  home 
life  we  may  act  worthily  of  thee.  May  we  ever  be  conscious  of  thy  presence 
and  of  thy  help,  and  seek  to  manifest  thy  spirit.  May  we  be  gentle  and 
forbearing  toward  each  other  and  faithful  in  rendering  to  others  their  dues. 
May  we  constantly  minister  to  the  welfare  of  others  and  may  we  be  kept 
from  selfishness  in  thought  and  word  and  deed.  May  we  become  truly  wise 
through  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Grant  unto  us  all  thine  aid,  with¬ 
out  which  we  cannot  rightly  live,  we  ask  in  Jesus’  name.”  Amen. 

283 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  ii 


SDomO  tfje  of  dJ5oti 


I for  tije  Soap; 
fLt$&on  for  tljtSDap: 


“Teach  me  to  do  thy  will; 
For  thou  art  my  God. 

Psalm  40.  6— 11. 


— Psalm  143.  IO. 


6  Sacrifice  and  offering  thou  hast  no  delight  in; 

Mine  ears  hast  thou  opened: 

Burnt-offering  and  sin-offering  hast  thou  not  required. 

7  Then  said  I,  Lo,  I  am  come; 

In  the  roll  of  the  book  it  is  written  of  me: 

8  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God; 

Yea,  thy  law  is  within  my  heart. 

9  I  have  proclaimed  glad  tidings  of  righteousness  in  the  great 

assembly ; 

Lo,  I  will  not  refrain  my  lips, 

O  Jehovah,  thou  knowest. 

10  I  have  not  hid  thy  righteousness  within  my  heart; 

I  have  declared  thy  faithfulness  and  thy  salvation; 

I  have  not  concealed  thy  loving-kindness  and  thy  truth  from 
the  great  assembly. 

11  Withhold  not  thou  thy  tender  mercies  from  me,  O  Jehovah; 
Let  thy  loving-kindness  and  thy  truth  continually  preserve 

me. 


“When  God  commands  to  take  the  trumpet 
And  blow  a  dolorous  or  thrilling  blast, 

It  rests  not  in  man’s  will  what  he  shall  do 
Or  what  he  shall  forbear.” 

—John  Milton . 


“I  am  glad  to  think 

I  am  not  bound  to  make  the  world  go  right; 

But  only  to  discover  and  to  do, 

With  cheerful  heart,  the  work  that  God  appoints. 

I  will  trust  in  him, 

That  he  can  hold  his  own;  and  I  will  take 
His  will,  above  the  work  he  sendeth  me, 

To  be  my  chiefest  good.” 

— /.  Ingelow. 

“Th  ere  never  has  been  a  great  and  beautiful  character  which  has  not  become  so 
by  filling  well  the  ordinary  and  smaller  offices  appointed  of  God.” — Horace  Bushnell. 

PtOptE  fOt  tljt  j&DOp;  “Oh,  send  thy  light  and  thy  truth,  that  we  may 
live  always  near  to  thee,  our  God.  Let  us  feel  thy  love,  that  we  may  be, 
as  it  were,  already  in  heaven,  that  we  may  do  all  our  work  as  the  angels 
do  theirs;  and  oh!  let  us  be  ready  for  every  work!  be  ready  to  go  out  or 
go  in,  to  stay  or  depart,  just  as  thou  shalt  appoint.  Lord,  let  us  have  no 
wills  of  our  own ;  or  consider  our  true  happiness  as  depending,  in  the  smallest 
degree,  on  anything  that  can  befall  us  outwardly,  but  as  consisting  altogether 
in  conformity  to  thy  will.”  Amen. — Henry  Martyn  (1781-1812). 

284 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  12 


Control  ot  tlje  temper 


tot  t&t  2Dap: 


“He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty; 
And  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit,  than  he  that  taketh 
a  city.” 

— Proverbs  1 6.  32. 


JLt##0\\  for  tf)£  SDft# *  Ecclesiastes  7.  8,  9;  Ephesians  4.  26,  27. 


8  Better  is  the  end  of  a  thing  than  the  beginning  thereof :  and 
the  patient  in  spirit  is  better  than  the  proud  in  spirit.  9  Be  not 
hasty  in  thy  spirit  to  be  angry,  for  anger  resteth  in  the  bosom  of 
fools. 

4.  26  Be  ye  angry,  and  sin  not:  let  not  the  sun  go  down  upon 
your  wrath:  27  neither  give  place  to  the  devil. 


“No  form  of  vice,  not  worldliness,  not  greed  of  gold,  not  drunkenness  itself,  does 
more  to  unchristianize  society  than  evil  temper.  .  .  .  How  many  prodigals  are  kept 
out  of  the  kingdom  of  God  by  the  unlovely  character  of  those  who  profess  to  be  inside.” 
— Henry  Drummond. 

“You  insist  upon  it,  that  we  are  saved  by  faith:  and  undoubtedly,  so  we  are.  But 
consider,  meantime,  that  let  us  have  ever  so  much  faith,  and  be  our  faith  ever  so  strong, 
it  will  never  save  us  from  hell,  unless  it  now  save  us  from  all  unholy  tempers;  from  pride, 
passion,  impatience;  from  all  arrogance  of  spirit,  all  haughtiness  and  overbearing;  from 
wrath,  anger,  bitterness;  from  discontent,  murmuring,  fretfulness,  peevishness.  We 
are  of  all  men  most  inexcusable,  if  having  been  so  frequently  guarded  against  that  strong 
delusion,  we  still,  while  we  indulge  any  of  these  tempers,  bless  ourselves,  and  dream  we 
are  in  the  way  to  heaven!” — John  Wesley. 


^toyn  (ot  t Se  SDay:  “  O  thou  whose  name  is  Love,  who  never  turned 
away  from  the  cry  of  thy  needy  children,  give  ear  to  our  prayers.  O  God, 
help  us  to  control  our  tempers.  May  we  check  the  first  risings  of  anger  or 
sullenness.  If  we  meet  with  unkindness  or  ill-treatment,  give  us  that  charity 
which  suffereth  long  and  beareth  all  things.  If  we  are  treated  wrongfully, 
may  we  endure  it  with  patience  and  meekness,  remembering  that  thou,  our 
Lord  and  Master,  didst  suffer  before  us.  Give  us  grace  to  deny  self,  to  take 
up  the  cross  and  follow  thee.  May  we  be  kind  and  gentle  toward  all,  loving 
even  those  who  love  us  not.  Lord,  let  us  live  this  day  as  if  it  were  to  be 
our  last.  Keep  us  from  wasting  any  precious  hours,  remembering  that  our 
time  is  short.  Holy  Father,  let  thy  will  be  done  concerning  us.  Let  thy 
purpose  be  accomplished.  Lord,  hasten  thine  own  kingdom.  Let  thy  truth 
at  length  triumph.  Bless  the  preaching  of  thy  gospel  in  this  and  other  lands. 
Send  forth  laborers  into  thy  harvest  and  save  us  now  and  save  us  through¬ 
out  eternity  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — Ashton  Oxenden,  Adapted 
( 1808-1892). 


a85 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  13 

$1  Conscience  P0U1  of  Offense 


Perse  for  tf)e  SDtlJH  “Herein  I  also  exercise  myself  to  have  a  conscience 
void  of  offense  toward  God  and  men  always.” — Acts  24.  16. 

Wesson  for  tljeSDap:  2  Timothy  1.  1—7. 

1  Paul,  an  apostle  of  Christ  Jesus  through  the  will  of  God, 
according  to  the  promise  of  the  life  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  2  to 
Timothy,  my  beloved  child:  Grace,  mercy,  peace,  from  God  the 
Father  and  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 

3  I  thank  God,  whom  I  serve  from  my  forefathers  in  a  pure 
conscience,  how  unceasing  is  my  remembrance  of  thee  in  my 
supplications,  night  and  day  4  longing  to  see  thee,  remembering 
thy  tears,  that  I  may  be  filled  with  joy;  5  having  been  reminded 
of  the  unfeigned  faith  that  is  in  thee;  which  dwelt  first  in  thy 
grandmother  Lois,  and  thy  mother  Eunice;  and,  I  am  persuaded, 
in  thee  also.  6  For  which  cause  I  put  thee  in  remembrance  that 
thou  stir  up  the  gift  of  God,  which  is  in  thee  through  the  laying 
on  of  my  hands.  7  For  God  gave  us  not  a  spirit  of  fearfulness;  but 
of  power  and  love  and  discipline. 


“Nothing  matters  when  one  comes  to  the  last  hour  but  a  clear  conscience  before 
God.” — Edith  Cavell. 

“Leave  consequences  to  God  but  do  right.  Be  genuine,  real,  sincere,  true,  upright, 
godlike.  The  world’s  maxim  is,  Trim  your  sails  and  yield  to  circumstances.  But  if 
you  would  do  any  good  in  your  generation,  you  must  be  made  of  sterner  stuff,  and  help 
make  your  times  rather  than  be  made  by  them.” — Charles  H.  Spurgeon. 

“Blest  is  the  man  whose  head  and  hands  are  pure! 

He  hath  no  sickness  that  he  shall  not  cure, 

No  sorrow  that  he  may  not  well  endure; 

His  feet  are  steadfast,  and  his  hope  is  sure. 

“Through  clouds  and  shadows  of  the  darkest  night 
He  will  not  lose  a  glimmering  of  the  light, 

Nor,  though  the  sun  of  joy  be  shrouded  quite, 

Swerve  from  the  narrow  path  to  left  or  right.” 

— John  Addington  Symonds. 


y&Z&jPCZ  tot  tf)t  SDftJH  “Almighty  and  Everlasting  God,  we  are  humbled 
when  we  remember  our  sins.  Even  this  day  we  have  done  things  which 
we  ought  not  to  have  done,  and  we  have  left  undone  things  which  we 
ought  to  have  done.  We  confess  that  though  we  are  sometimes  agitated  by 
the  fear  of  thine  anger,  and  are  saddened  that  by  our  wrong  doings  we  should 
grieve  thee,  we  are  strangely  insensible  to  our  guilt.  We  know  so  little  of 
what  it  is  to  abhor  that  which  is  evil ;  we  do  not  cleave  with  our  whole  heart 
to  that  which  is  good.  Have  mercy  upon  us,  O  God,  according  to  thy  loving¬ 
kindness,  and  according  to  the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mercies  blot  out  our 
transgressions.  Aid  us  by  thy  grace- that  each  one  of  us  may  keep  his  con¬ 
science  void  of  offense;  help  us  that  we  may  keep  a  clear  conscience  before 
God.  Wherein  we  fall  short  do  thou  forgive  us.  Daily  may  we  grow  in 
thy  grace  and  in  the  likeness  of  our  Lord  and  Master.  For  his  sake.”  Amen. 

286 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  14 

^bottling  Cbtl  ^goctatfong 


$£££»£  fOt  tf)£  SDa^t  “My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee, 

Consent  thou  not.” 

— Proverbs  I.  10. 

%e#&on  toz  tjje&ap:  Proverbs  4.  10-18. 

10  Hear,  O  my  son,  and  receive  my  sayings; 

And  the  years  of  thy  life  shall  be  many. 

11  I  have  taught  thee  in  the  way  of  wisdom; 

I  have  led  thee  in  paths  of  uprightness. 

12  When  thou  goest,  thy  steps  shall  not  be  straitened; 

And  if  thou  runnest,  thou  shalt  not  stumble. 

13  Take  fast  hold  of  instruction;  let  her  not  go; 

Keep  her;  for  she  is  thy  life. 

14  Enter  not  into  the  path  of  the  wicked, 

And  walk  not  in  the  way  of  evil  men. 

15  Avoid  it,  pass  not  by  it; 

Turn  from  it,  and  pass  on. 

16  For  they  sleep  not,  except  they  do  evil; 

And  their  sleep  is  taken  away,  unless  they  cause  some  to 
fall.  * 

17  For  they  eat  the  bread  of  wickedness, 

And  drink  the  wine  of  violence. 

18  But  the  path  of  the  righteous  -is  as  the  dawning  light, 
That  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day. 


“You  feel  your  weakness;  you  fear  to  be  overcome  by  temptation;  then  keep  out 
of  the  way  of  it.  This  is  watching.  Avoid  associations  which  are  likely  to  mislead 
you;  flee  from  the  very  shadow  of  evil;  you  cannot  be  too  careful;  better  be  a  little  too 
strict  than  a  little  too  easy — it  is  the  safer  side.” — J.  H.  Newman. 


“Fight  the  good  fight  with  all  thy  might, 

Christ  is  thy  strength,  and  Christ  thy  right; 

Lay  hold  on  life,  and  it  shall  be 
Thy  joy  and  crown  eternally.” 

— John  S.  B.  Monsell. 


Pt ftgtE  fOt  tl)0  Our  Father,  as  thou  hast  joined  us  in  one  house¬ 

hold,  be  pleased  to  join  us  in  thy  fear  and  love.  Enable  us  to  serve  one 
another,  and  so  to  serve  thee.  May  none  make  it  harder  for  another  to  live 
as  becomes  the  children  of  God.  Put  far  from  us,  O  Lord,  unkind  thoughts 
and  harsh  tempers ;  and  may  unloving  words  and  unhelpful  ways  be  unknown 
in  our  home.  Make  us  true,  faithful,  helpful  and  unselfish.  Help  us  that 
we  may  avoid  every  evil  path.  May  we  have  no  association  with  sinful  men 
save  that  alone  which  is  for  the  purpose  of  leading  them  into  the  ways  of 
righteousness.  May  we  find  the  satisfactions  of  life  in  communion  with  thee 
and  in  the  fellowship  of  the  pure,  the  wise,  and  the  good.  May  we  so  live  as 
to  commend  thee,  our  Father,  and  Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour,  to  all  with 
whom  we  meet.  In  his  name.  Amen. 

287 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  15 
appcobeb  ffllnto  C5ob 


©ftlSE  tOC  tt)C  2Ddp!  “Study  to  show  thyself  approved  unto  God.” — 2 
Timothy  2.  15  (King  James  version). 

JLtg&on  for  tfjeSDag:  Proverbs  I.  7—9;  Philippians  1.  9— 11. 

7  The  fear  of  Jehovah  is  the  beginning  of  knowledge; 

But  the  foolish  despise  wisdom  and  instruction. 

8  My  son,  hear  the  instruction  of  thy  father, 

And  forsake  not  the  law  of  thy  mother; 

9  For  they  shall  be  a  chaplet  of  grace  unto  thy  head, 

And  chains  about  thy  neck. 

1.  9  And  this  I  pray,  that  your  love  may  abound  yet  more  and 
more  in  knowledge  and  all  discernment;  10  so  that  ye  may  approve 
the  things  that  are  excellent;  that  ye  may  be  sincere  and  void  of 
offense  unto  the  day  of  Christ;  11  being  filled  with  the  fruits  of 
righteousness,  which  are  through  Jesus  Christ,  unto  the  glory 
and  praise  of  God. 


“God  is  in  the  home  where  parental  love  and  filial  virtues  abound,  and  such  a 
home  b^omes  a  veritable  paradise.  It  is  the  symbol  of  the  heavenly  home — the 
Father’s  house — in  which  true  fellowship  abounds.  Such  a  home  is  worth  striving 
for.  It  represents  the  highest  values,  the  moral  and  spiritual  values,  which  alone 
abide.” — George  Hodges. 


“The  real  object  of  education  is  to  give  children  resources  that  will  endure  as  long 
as  life  endureth;  habits  that  time  will  ameliorate,  not  destroy;  occupation  that  will 
render  sickness  tolerable,  solitude  pleasant,  age  venerable,  life  more  dignified  and  useful, 
and  death  less  terrible.” — Sydney  Smith. 


“The  entire  object  of  true  education  is  to  make  people  not  merely  do  the  right 
things,  but  enjoy  them;  not  merely  industrious,  but  to  love  industry;  not  merely  learned, 
but  to  love  knowledge;  not  merely  pure,  but  to  love  purity;  not  merely  just,  but  to  hunger 
and  thirst  after  justice.” — John  Ruskin. 


pE 0£EE  fDE  tf)E  “O  Lord,  in  these  difficult  times,  when  there  is  a 

seeming  opposition  of  knowledge  and  faith,  and  an  accumulation  of  facts 
beyond  the  power  of  the  human  mind  to  conceive;  and  good  men  of  all 
religions,  more  and  more,  meet  in  thee ;  and  the  strife  between  classes  in 
society,  and  between  good  and  evil  in  our  own  souls,  is  not  less  than  of 
old ;  and  the  love  of  pleasure  and  the  desires  of  the  flesh  are  always  coming 
in  between  us  and  thee;  and  we  cannot  rise  above  these  things  to  see  the  light 
of  Heaven,  but  are  tossed  upon  a  sea  of  troubles — we  pray  thee  be  our 
guide  and  strength  and  light,  that,  looking  up  to  thee  always,  we  may  behold 
the  rock  on  which  we  stand,  and  he  confident  in  the  word  which  thou  hast 
spoken.”  Amen. — Benjamin  Jowett  (1817—1893). 


288 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  16 


&cfcnotoletiQ;mQ;  C5oti  in  &ll  GDuv 

®tt$t  for  tfje  2Dap:  “  Commit  thy  way  unto  Jehovah; 

Trust  also  in  him,  and  he  will  bring  it  to  pass. 

— Psalm  37.  5. 

(Ot  tf)t  SDapt  Psalm  145.  1-5,  10-12. 

1  I  will  extol  thee,  my  God,  O  King; 

And  I  will  bless  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 

2  Every  day  will  I  bless  thee; 

And  I  will  praise  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 

3  Great  is  Jehovah,  and  greatly  to  be  praised; 

And  his  greatness  is  unsearchable. 

4  One  generation  shall  laud  thy  works  to  another, 

And  shall  declare  thy  mighty  acts. 

5  Of  the  glorious  majesty  of  thine  honor, 

And  of  thy  wondrous  works,  will  I  meditate. 

10  All  thy  works  shall  give  thanks  unto  thee,  O  Jehovah; 
And  thy  saints  shall  bless  thee. 

11  They  shall  speak  of  the  glory  of  thy  kingdom, 

And  talk  of  thy  power; 

12  To  make  known  to  the  sons  of  men  his  mighty  acts, 

And  the  glory  of  the  majesty  of  his  kingdom. 

“The  trivial  round,  the  common  task, 

Will  furnish  all  we  ought  to  ask; 

Room  to  deny  ourselves;  a  road 
To  bring  us,  daily,  nearer  God. 

“Only,  O  Lord,  in  thy  dear  love, 

Fit  us  for  perfect  rest  above; 

And  help  us,  this  and  every  day, 

To  live  more  nearly  as  we  pray.”  — John  Keble. 

“How  often  do  we  sigh  for  opportunities  of  doing  good  whilst  we  neglect  the  open¬ 
ings  of  Providence  in  little  things  which  would  frequently  lead  to  the  accomplishment 
of  most  important  usefulness!  He  who  waits  to  do  a  great  deal  of  good  at  once  will 
never  do  any!  Good  is  done  by  degrees.” 

ptapet  (or  tjje  Snap:  “  O  Lord,  hear  our  prayer,  we  beseech  thee.  We 
would  put  ourselves  and  all  that  concerns  us  into  thy  hands  and  ask  thee  to 
be  our  Guide  and  Counselor.  I?j  all  our  ways  we  desire  to  acknowledge  thee ; 
and  do  thou  direct  our  paths.  Keep  us,  we  beseech  thee,  from  all  evil,  that 
we,  being  ready  both  in  body  and  soul,  may  cheerfully  accomplish  those 
things  that  thou  wouldst  have  us  do.  Fit  us,  O  Lord,  for  all  the  events  of 
this  short  and  uncertain  life.  If  prosperity  be  our  portion,  keep  us  humble 
and  watchful  in  the  midst  of  it;  or,  if  sorrows  and  trials  come  upon  us,  give 
us  grace  cheerfully  to  submit,  saying,  ‘Father,  not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done.’ 
Be  very  gracious  to  our  friends:  grant  to  them  health  and  prosperity  in  this 
life,  and  make  them  meet  for  the  life  everlasting.  And,  O  Lord,  bless  and 
save  the  whole  world.  We  ask  all  these  blessings  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. — John  H.  Vincent  (1832-1920), 

289 


OBEDIENCE 


OCTOBER  17 

Bearing  t&r  Untage  ot  <Bod 


0 

PtEgif  (Ot  tl )t  SDa^t  “And  God  created  man  in  his  own  image,  in  the 
image  of  God  created  he  him.” — Genesis  1.  27. 

3Lt$$on  (ot  tfjc  2Dap;  Colossians  3.  5~ n* 

5  Put  to  death  therefore  your  members  which  are  upon  the 
earth:  fornication,  uncleanness,  passion,  evil  desire,  and  covetous¬ 
ness,  which  is  idolatry;  6  for  which  things’  sake  cometh  the 
wrath  of  God  upon  the  sons  of  disobedience:  7  wherein  ye  also 
once  walked,  when  ye  lived  in  these  things;  8  but  now  do  ye  also 
put  them  all  away:  anger,  wrath,  malice,  railing,  shameful  speak¬ 
ing  out  of  your  mouth:  9  lie  not  one  to  another;  seeing  that  ye  have 
put  off  the  old  man  with  his  doings,  10  and  have  put  on  the  new 
man,  that  is  being  renewed  unto  knowledge  after  the  image  of  him 
that  created  him:  n  where  there  cannot  be  Greek  and  Jew,  cir¬ 
cumcision  and  uncircumcision,  barbarian,  Scythian,  bondman,  free¬ 
man;  but  Christ  is  all,  and  in  all. 


“Great  Master,  touch  us  with  thy  skillful  hand; 

Let  not  the  music  that  is  in  us  die! 

Great  Sculptor,  hew  and  polish  us;  nor  let, 

Hidden  and  lost,  thy  form  within  us  lie! 

“Spare  not  the  stroke!  do  with  us  as  thou  wilt; 

Let  there  be  naught  unfinished,  broken,  marred; 

Complete  thy  purpose,  that  we  may  become 
Thy  perfect  image,  thou  our  God  and  Lord!” 

— Horatius  Bonar. 


To  bear  the  image  of  God,  means  not  outward  resemblance  merely,  but  essen¬ 
tial  similarity.  As  the  Son  is  the  image  of  the  Father,  so  the  Christian  is  to  reflect 
the  image  of  his  Lord,  passing  through  a  gradual  assimilation  of  mind  and  character 
to  an  ultimate  finer  likeness. 


Pta yn  (ot  tl )t  2Dap:  “  O  Lord  who  hast  breathed  into  us  the  breath  of 
life  and  endued  us  with  an  immortal  spirit,  which  looks  up  unto  thee,  and 
remembers  it  is  made  after  thine  own  image,  behold  with  grace  and  favor 
the  desires  which  are  in  our  hearts  to  recover  a  perfect  likeness  to  thee.  Fill 
us,  O  Lord,  with  the  knowledge  of  thy  will  in  all  wisdom  and  spiritual 
understanding.  Fill  us  with  goodness  and  the  fruits  of  righteousness,  and 
fill  us  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing  that  thou  wilt  never  leave  us  nor 
forsake  us,  but  make  us  perfect,  stablish,  strengthen,  settle  us,  and  be  our 
God  forever  and  ever,  our  Guide  even  unto  death.”  Amen. — Simon  Patrick 
(b.  1626). 


290 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  18 


Cfjrtet  ^tantrinu  at  tfje  SDoot 

> 

©etge  toe  t0c  2Dag:  “  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock :  if  any  man 
hear  my  voice  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup 
with  him,  and  he  with  me.” — Revelation  3.  20. 

JLt$$on  for  t SDap:  Luke  12.  35-38. 

35  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  your  lamps  burning; 
36  and  be  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  looking  for  their  lord, 
when  he  shall  return  from  the  marriage  feast;  that,  when  he  cometh 
and  knocketh,  they  may  straightway  open  unto  him.  37  Blessed 
are  those  servants,  whom  the  lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  watch¬ 
ing:  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  shall  gird  himself,  and  make 
them  sit  down  to  meat,  and  shall  come  and  serve  them.  38  And  if 
he  shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  and  if  in  the  third,  and  find 
them  so,  blessed  are  those  servants. 


“Lord,  what  am  I,  that  with  unceasing  care 
Thou  didst  seek  after  me,  that  thou  didst  wait 
Wet  with  unhealthful  dews  before  my  gate, 

And  pass  the  gloomy  nights  of  winter  there. 

How  oft  my  guardian  angel  gently  cried, 

‘Soul,  from  thy  casement  look,  and  thou  shalt  see 
How  he  persists  to  knock  and  wait  for  thee.’ 

And  of  how  often  to  that  voice  of  sorrow, 

‘To-morrow  we  will  open,’  I  replied; 

And  when  the  morrow  came,  I  answered  still, 

‘To-morrow.’  ” 

— From  the  Spanish  of  Lope  de  V ega. 

“Once  upon  a  time  Mendelssohn  came  to  see  the  great  Freiburg  organ.  The  old 
custodian  refused  him  admission  and  would  not  permit  him  to  play  upon  the  organ. 
At  length,  however,  he  reluctantly  granted  him  leave  to  play  a  few  notes.  Mendels¬ 
sohn  took  his  seat,  and  soon  the  most  wonderful  music  was  breaking  forth  from  the 
organ.  The  custodian  was  spell-bound.  He  came  up  beside  the  great  musician  and 
asked  his  name.  Learning  it,  he  stood  humiliated,  self-condemned,  saying,  ‘And  I 
refused  you  permission  to  play  upon  my  organ!’  Christ  comes  to  us  standing  at  our 
door,  desiring  to  take  our  lives,  bringing  to  bear  upon  them  his  matchless,  masterful 
touch.  And  we  withhold  ourselves  from  him,  when,  if  we  would  yield  to  him,  he  would 
cause  our  lives  to  give  forth  heavenly  music.” 

H&Z (Ot  ffyt  jSDagt  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  standest  at  the  door  and 
knockestj  give  us  wisdom,  we  entreat  thee,  to  open  our  hearts  wide  unto  thee, 
that  thou  mayest  enter  in  to  abide  and  sup  with  us.  Grant  us  grace  to  dis¬ 
cern  and  love  thee  in  thy  poor ;  and  according  as  thou  shalt  call  us,  to  feed 
thee  in  the  hungry,  refresh  thee  in  the  thirsty,  clothe  thee  in  the  naked,  visit 
thee  in  the  sick,  comfort  thee  in  the  prisoner,  receive  thee  in  the  stranger, 
bury  that  which  is  made  after  thine  image  in  the  dead.”  Amen. — Christina 
G.  Rossetti  (1830-1894). 


291 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  19 
Imotoutjj  GDm  €>ton 

P£E|Gr£  fOt  t j)0  “For  now  we  see  in  a  mirror,  darkly;  but  then 

face  to  face :  now  I  know  in  part ;  but  then  shall  I  know  fully  even  as 
also  I  was  fully  known.” — 1  Corinthians  13.  12. 

2Lr££0nfott5e£Dap:  Psalm  143.  1,  2,  5,  6,  8. 

1  Hear  my  prayer,  O  Jehovah;  give  ear  to  my  supplications; 

In  thy  faithfulness  answer  me,  and  in  thy  righteousness. 

2  And  enter  not  into  judgment  with  thy  servant; 

For  in  thy  sight  no  man  living  is  righteous. 

5  I  remember  the  days  of  old; 

I  meditate  on  all  thy  doings; 

I  muse  on  the  work  of  thy  hands. 

6  I  spread  forth  my  hands  unto  thee: 

My  soul  thirsteth  after  thee,  as  a  weary  land. 

8  Cause  me  to  hear  thy  loving-kindness  in  the  morning; 

For  in  thee  do  I  trust: 

Cause  me  to  know  the  way  wherein  I  should  walk; 

For  I  lift  up  my  soul  unto  thee. 

“By  all  means  use  sometimes  to  be  alone. 

Salute  thyself:  see  what  thy  soul  doth  wear. 

Dare  to  look  in  thy  chest, — for  ’tis  thine  own, — 

And  tumble  up  and  down  what  thou  find’st  there. 

Who  cannot  rest  till  he  good  fellows  finde, 

He  breaks  up  house,  turns  out  of  doores  his  minde.” 

— George  Herbert. 

“Never  let  us  be  discouraged  with  ourselves.  It  is  not  when  we  are  conscious  of 
our  faults  that  we  are  the  most  wicked;  on  the  contrary,  we  are  less  so.  We  see  by  a 
brighter  light;  and  let  us  remember,  for  our  consolation,  that  we  never  perceive  our 
sins  till  we  begin  to  cure  them.” — Fenelon. 

pta yn  tot  Soap:  Look  upon  us  in  mercy,  O  our  God,  and  hearken 
to  our  prayer.  Our  wants  are  great ;  but,  Lord,  thy  power  to  relieve  is 
greater.  Thou  art  the  Fountain  of  life:  we  come  to  thee  poor  and  needy; 
give  unto  us  out  of  thy  fullness.  Thou  delightest  to  give ;  send  us  not  empty 
away.  We  thank  thee,  O  Lord,  for  all  thy  mercies.  We  thank  thee  for  the 
measure  of  health  which  we  enjoy,  for  the  food  we  eat,  for  the  clothing  we 
put  on,  for  the  home  in  which  we  dwell.  We  thank  thee  for  our  kind  and 
dear  friends,  and  for  the  love  and  peace  of  our  home.  O  God,  enable  us 
to  live  nearer  to  thee  than  we  have  yet  done.  Strengthen  our  faith ;  increase 
our  love;  fill  us  with  thyself;  draw  our  sinful  hearts  toward  thee.  Lord, 
we  desire  to  know  our  own  hearts.  Show  each  one  of  us  to  himself,  we 
beseech  thee.  Give  us  to  know  ourselves  even  as  thou  dost  know  us.  Let 
no  evil  nor  secret  sin  of  our  inward  hearts  be  hidden  from  us,  O  our  Father. 
Thou  hast  called  us  unto  holiness;  sanctify  us  by  thy  blessed  Spirit.  Lead 
us  in  the  paths  of  life.  If  there  be  any  secret  sin  lurking  in  our  hearts  give 
us  grace  to  overcome  it.  Bless  our  pastor  and  all  those  whom  thou  hast 
committed  to  his  care.  Help  him  to  sow  faithfully  the  seed  of  life,  and  may 
it  spring  up  in  many  hearts.  The  harvest  is  truly  plenteous;  send  faithful 
laborers  forth  into  thy  harvest.  In  Jesus’  name.  Amen. 

292 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  20 


ft  Contrite  I^eart 

$et£e  tor  t!)e  SDap:  ‘  ‘A  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou  wilt 
not  despise.” — Psalm  51.  17. 

HegtfonfortfjeSDap:  Isaiah  57.  15,  16,  20,  21. 

15  For  thus  saith  the  high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth  eter¬ 
nity,  whose  name  is  Holy:  I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place,  with 
him  also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit 
of  the  humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite.  16  For  I 
will  not  contend  forever,  neither  will  I  be  always  wroth;  for  the 
spirit  would  faint  before  me,  and  the  souls  that  I  have  made.  20 
But  the  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  sea;  for  it  cannot  rest,  and 
its  waters  cast  up  mire  and  dirt.  21  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my 
God,  to  the  wicked. 


“What  is  our  work  when  God  a  blessing  would  impart? 

To  bring  the  empty  vessel  of  a  needy  heart.” 

— Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 

“If  you  are  fighting  with  all  your  might,  fear  not,  however  often  you  may  have 
fallen,  however  deeply,  however  ungratefully,  however  inexcusably.  This  one  thing  we 
can  give,  and  this  is  what  he  asks,  hearts  that  shall  never  cease  from  this  day  forward, 
till  we  reach  the  grave,  to  strive  to  be  more  like  him;  to  come  nearer  to  him  ;  to  root  out 
from  within  us  the  sin  that  keeps  us  from  him.  To  such  a  battle,  brethren  ,  I  call  you  in 
his  name.” — Frederick  Temple. 

“He  sendeth  sun,  he  sendeth  shower, 

Alike  they’re  needful  to  the  flower, 

And  joys  and  tears  alike  are  sent 
To  give  the  soul  fit  nourishment: 

As  comes  to  me  or  cloud  or  sun, 

Father,  thy  will,  not  mine,  be  done. 

“Can  loving  children  e’er  reprove 
With  murmurs,  whom  they  trust  and  love? 

Creator,  I  would  ever  be 
A  trusting,  loving  child  to  thee; 

As  comes  to  me  or  cloud  or  sun, 

Father,  thy  will,  not  mine,  be  done.” 

— Sarah  Flower  Adams. 


Cot  tf)t  “O  Searcher  of  hearts,  thou  knowest  us  better  than 

we  know  ourselves,  and  seest  the  sins  which  our  sinfulness  hides  from  us. 
Yet  even  our  own  conscience  beareth  witness  against  us,  that  we  often 
slumber  on  our  appointed  watch,  that  we  walk  not  always  lovingly  with 
each  other  and  humbly  with  thee ;  and  we  withhold  that  entire  sacrifice  of 
ourselves  to  thy  perfect  will,  without  which  we  are  not  crucified  with  Christ, 
or  sharer  in  his  redemption.  Oh,  look  upon  our  contrition  and  lift  up  our 
weakness,  and  let  the  dayspring  yet  arise  within  our  hearts,  and  bring  us 
healing,  strength  and  joy.  Day  by  day  may  we  grow  in  faith,  in  self-denial, 
in  charity,  in  heavenly-mindedness,  and  then  mingle  us  at  last  with  the  mighty 
host  of  thy  redeemed  forevermore.”  Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805- 
1900). 


293 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  2i 


SDi tr  Mttb  ot  l&epentanct 

$££#£  (Ot  tt)Z  SDftJH  “Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  in  like  manner 
perish.” — Luke  13.  3. 

Ht££0lt  f 0t  (fit  2Dap:  Matthew  3.  1,  2,  5-10. 

1  And  in  those  days  cometh  John  the  Baptist,  preaching  in 
the  wilderness  of  Judaea,  saying,  2  Repent  ye;  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand.  ...  5  Then  went  out  unto  him  Jerusalem, 

and  all  Judaea,  and  all  the  region  round  about  the  Jordan;  6  and 
they  were  baptized  of  him  in  the  river  Jordan,  confessing  their 
sins.  7  But  when  he  saw  many  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees 
coming  to  his  baptism,  he  said  unto  them,  Ye  offspring  of  vipers, 
who  warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come?  8  Bring  forth 
therefore  fruit  worthy  of  repentance:  9  and  think  not  to  say 
within  yourselves,  We  have  Abraham  to  our  father:  for  I  say  unto 
you,  that  God  is  able  of  these  stones  to  raise  up  children  unto 
Abraham.  10  And  even  now  the  axe  lieth  at  the  root  of  the  trees: 
every  tree  therefore  that  bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn 
down,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 

“Father,  I  scarcely  dare  to  pray. 

So  clear  I  see,  now  it  is  done. 

That  I  have  wasted  half  my  day, 

And  left  my  work  but  just  begun. 

“In  outskirts  of  thy  kingdom  vast, 

Father,  the  humblest  spot  give  me; 

Set  me  the  lowliest  task  thou  hast; 

Let  me,  repentant,  work  for  thee.” 

— Helen  Hunt  Jackson. 

“Forgive  us  if  this  day  we  have  done  or  said  anything  to  increase  the  pain  of  the 
world.  Pardon  the  unkind  word,  the  impatient  gesture,  the  hard  and  selfish  deed,  the 
failure  to  show  sympathy  and  kindly  help  where  we  had  the  opportunity,  but  missed 
it;  and  enable  us  so  to  live  that  we  may  daily  do  something  to  lessen  the  tide  of  human 
sorrow,  and  add  to  the  sum  of  human  happiness.” — F.  B.  Meyer. 


f 0t  tf)t  “O  thou  Holy  One  and  just!  if  alone  the  pure  in 

heart  can  see  thee,  truly  we  must  stand  afar  off,  and  not  so  much  as  lift  up 
our  eyes  unto  heaven.  Were  it  not  that  thou  hast  help  and  pity  for  the 
contrite  spirit,  we  could  only  cry,  ‘Depart  from  us  for  we  are  sinful  men, 
O  Lord!’  For  idle  words,  for  proud  thoughts  and  unlovely  deeds,  for 
wasted  moments  and  reluctant  duties,  and  too  eager  rest ;  for  the  wandering 
desire,  the  wain  fancy,  the  scornful  doubt,  the  untrustful  care;  for  impatient 
murmurs  and  unruly  passions,  and  the  hardness  of  a  worldly  heart,  thou, 
Lord,  canst  call  us  unto  judgment,  and  we  have  naught  to  answer  thee.  But, 
O  thou  Judge  of  men,  thou  art  witness  that  we  do  not  love  our  guilty  ways; 
make  our  consciences  true  and  tender  that  we  may  only  hate  them,  and  refuse 
them  any  place  as  enemies  to  thee.  Stir  up  with  us  a  great  and  effectual 
repentance,  that  we  may  redeem  the  time  which  we  have  lost,  and  in  the 
hours  that  remain  may  do  the  work  of  many  days.”  Amen. — James 
Martineau  (1805— 1900). 


294 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  22 


£Dtit  ipeeti  of  Jfotgibenegg 

mz&t  to z  tge  Soap:  “  For  thy  name’s  sake,  O  Jehovah, 

Pardon  mine  iniquity,  for  it  is  great.” 

— Psahn  25.  11. 

JLe$$on  tot  tf)t  SDap:  Psalm  51.  1-3,  7-9,  14. 

1  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  according  to  thy  loving¬ 

kindness  : 

According  to  the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mercies  blot  out 
my  transgressions. 

2  Wash  me  thoroughly  from  mine  iniquity, 

And  cleanse  me  from  my  sin. 

3  For  I  know  my  transgressions; 

And  my  sin  is  ever  before  me. 

7  Purify  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall  be  clean: 

Wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow. 

8  Make  me  to  hear  joy  and  gladness, 

That  the  bones  which  thou  hast  broken  may  rejoice. 

9  Hide  thy  face  from  my  sins, 

And  blot  out  all  mine  iniquities. 

14  Deliver  me  from  bloodguiltiness,  O  God,  thou  God  of  my 
salvation ; 

And  my  tongue  shall  sing  aloud  of  thy  righteousness. 

“0  Father!  I  have  sinned.  I  have  done 
The  thing  I  thought  I  never  more  should  do. 

My  days  were  set  before  me,  light  all  through, 

But  I  have  made  them  dark — alas!  too  true — 

And  drawn  dense  clouds  between  me  and  my  Sun.” 

— Henry  Septimus  Sutton. 

“Let  there  be 

No  further  strife  nor  enmity 
Between  us  twain:  we  both  have  erred! 

Too  rash  in  act,  too  wroth  in  word, 

From  the  beginning  have  we  stood 
In  fierce,  defiant  attitude, 

Each  thoughtless  of  the  other’s  right, 

And  each  reliant  on  his  might. 

But  now  our  souls  are  more  subdued: 

The  hand  of  God,  and  not  in  vain 
Has  touched  us  with  the  fire  of  pain. 

Let  us  kneel  down,  and  side  by  side 
Pray,  till  our  souls  are  purified, 

And  pardon  will  not  be  denied!” 

— Henry  W.  Longfellow. 

fOE  tf)E  2Dag:  “Forgive  us  our  sins,  O  Lord,  forgive  us  the  sins 
of  our  youth  and  the  sins  of  our  age,  the  sins  of  our  souls,  and  the  sins  of 
our  bodies,  our  secret  and  our  whispering  sins,  our  presumptuous  and  our 
crying  sins,  the  sins  that  we  have  done  to  please  ourselves  and  the  sins  that 
we  have  done  to  please  others.  Forgive  us  those  sins  which  we  know,  and 
those  sins  which  we  know  not;  forgive  them,  O  Lord,  forgive  them  all  of 
thy  great  goodness.”  Amen. 


295 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  23 

tP&e  Mecb  Cot  a  Clean  I^eart 


fOt  tlje  SDa^»  “Who  can  say,  I  have  made  my  heart  clean, 

I  am  pure  from  my  sin?” 

— Proverbs  20.  9. 

£t££on  for  tfieSDap:  Psalm  51.  10-17. 


10  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God; 

And  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me. 

11  Cast  me  not  away  from  thy  presence; 

And  take  not  thy  holy  Spirit  from  me. 

12  Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation; 

And  uphold  me  with  a  willing  spirit. 

13  Then  will  I  teach  transgressors  thy  ways; 

And  sinners  shall  be  converted  unto  thee. 

14  Deliver  me  from  bloodguiltiness,  O  God,  thou  God  of  my 

salvation ; 

And  my  tongue  shall  sing  aloud  of  thy  righteousness. 

15  O  Lord,  open  thou  my  lips; 

And  my  mouth  shall  show  forth  thy  praise. 

16  For  thou  delightest  not  in  sacrifice;  else  would  I  give  it: 
Thou  hast  no  pleasure  in  burnt-offering. 

17  The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken  spirit: 

A  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou  wilt  not  despise. 


“As  of  old 

He  walks  with  men  apart, 

Keeping  the  promise  as  foretold 
With  all  the  pure  in  heart. 

“Thou  needst  not  ask  the  angels  where 
His  habitations  be; 

Keep  thou  thy  spirit  clean  and  fair 

And  he  shall  dwell  with  thee.”  — Alice  Cary. 

“We  set  out  for  the  battle  in  the  morning  strong  and  clean.  By  and  by  we  catch  a 
moment  in  the  lull  of  the  struggle  to  look  down  upon  ourselves,  and  how  tired  and  how 
covered  with  dust  and  blood  we  are!  How  long  back  our  first  purity  seems — how  long 
the  day  seems  sometimes — how  long  since  we  began  to  live.  You  know  what  stains  are 
on  your  lives.  Each  of  us  knows,  every  man  and  woman.  They  burn  to  our  eyes,  even 
if  no  neighbor  sees  them.  They  burn  in  the  still  air  of  the  Sabbath  even  if  we  do  not 
see  them  in  the  week.  You  would  not  think  for  the  world  that  your  children  should 
grow  up  to  the  same  stains  that  have  fastened  upon  you.  You  dream  for  them  of  a 
‘life  unspotted  from  the  world/  and  the  very  anxiety  of  that  dream  proves  how  you 
know  that  your  own  life  is  spotted  and  stained.” — Phillips  Brooks. 

p£a#£E  (Ot  t l)t  i&DajH  “Lord  our  God,  great,  eternal,  wonderful  in  glory, 
who  keepest  covenant  and  promises  for  those  that  love  thee  with  their  whole 
heart;  who  art  the  Life  of  all,  the  Help  of  those  that  flee  unto  thee,  the 
Hope  of  those  who  cry  unto  thee;  cleanse  us  from  our  sins,  secret  and  open, 
and  from  every  thought  displeasing  to  thy  goodness — cleanse  our  bodies  and 
souls,  our  hearts  and  consciences,  that  with  a  pure  heart  and  clean  soul,  with 
perfect  love  and  calm  hope  we  may  venture  confidently  and  fearlessly  to 
pray  unto  thee.”  Amen. — Coptic  Liturgy  of  Saint  Basil. 

296 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  24 

Conftgtfton  of  <2Dui  £>tn£ 


Wn&t  tot  tfie  SDay; 


JLt&$on  for  tije  2Day: 


“He  that  covereth  his  transgressions  shall  not 
prosper ; 

But  whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh  them  shall 
obtain  mercy.” 

— Proverbs  28.  13. 

1  John  I.  5_9* 


5  And  this  is  the  message  which  we  have  heard  from  him 
and  announce  unto  you,  that  God  is  light,  and  in  him  is  no  dark¬ 
ness  at  all.  6  If  we  say  that  we  have  fellowship  with  him  and 
walk  in  the  darkness,  we  lie,  and  do  not  the  truth:  7  but  if  we  walk  in 
the  light,  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another, 
and  the  blood  of  Jesus  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.  8  If  we 
say  that  we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not 
in  us.  9  If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  righteous  to 
forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness. 


“You  need  not  go  far  to  learn  how  you  may  gain  more  vivid  views  of  God.  The 
sin  that  now  rises  to  memory  as  your  bosom  sin,  let  this  first  of  all  be  withstood  and 
mastered.  Such  a  spiritual  conflict,  trifling  though  it  may  appear,  will  do  more  than 
can  all  other  influences  combined,  to  fit  you  for  a  near,  strong,  affectionate  intimacy 
with  your  God.” — W.  E.  Channing. 


“The  confession  of  sin  should  above  all,  in  collective  worship,  apply  to  collective 
sin — to  that  sinfulness  of  society  which  Christ  would  denounce  if  he  came  again  among 
us.  The  vigor  of  that  denunciation  would,  I  expect,  eclipse  anything  now  heard  from 
pulpits;  though  it  would,  I  believe,  take  an  unpopular  and  unexpected  direction,  and 
concern  itself  less  with  the  weaknesses  and  follies  and  half-repented  sins  of  humanity, 
than  with  the  greed,  the  selfishness,  the  sheer  individualism  and  mammon-worship 
which  excite  but  occasional  reprobation;  it  would  attack  the  heartless  and  contented 
acquiescence  in  conditions  which  debase  the  soul  of  a  people  and  erect  the  extravagant 
luxury  of  a  few  on  the  grinding  poverty  of  many. 

‘We  are  verily  guilty  concerning  our  brother.’  ” — Sir  Oliver  Lodge. 


Prayer  tot  tlje  j&Day:  O  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father,  who  of  thy  great 
mercy  hast  promised  forgiveness  of  sins  to  all  them  that  repent  and  turn 
unto  thee,  have  mercy  upon  us;  deliver  us  from  all  our  evils,  strengthen  us 
in  all  goodness,  and  bring  us  unto  everlasting  life.  We  acknowledge  and 
bewail  our  manifold  sins,  O  God.  We  confess  that  in  thought,  word,  and 
deed  we  have  sinned  against  heaven  and  in  thy  sight  and  are  not  worthy  to 
be  called  thy  children.  But  thou,  O  Lord,  art  good  and  ready  to  forgive,  and 
plenteous  in  mercy  to  all  them  that  call  upon  thee.  Have  mercy  upon  us, 
O  God,  and  lead  us  to  true  repentance.  Cleanse  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  us,  that  we  may  be  able  to  see  and  acknowl¬ 
edge  our  transgressions  and  to  turn  from  them  as  sins  against  thee  and  in  the 
faithful  and  diligent  performance  of  all  our  duties  may  learn  to  do  justly 
and  love  mercy  and  walk  humbly  with  our  God.  This  we  ask  in  Jesus 
Christ.  Amen. 


297 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  25 

<0ttt  £>tn£  ot  flDmtesrton 


(0t  tf)£  “Jesus  said  unto  them,  If  ye  were  blind,  ye  would 

have  no  sin:  but  now  ye  say,  We  see:  your  sin  remaineth.” — John  9.  41. 

tot  tSeSDag:  James  3.  13—17* 

13  Who  is  wise  and  understanding  among  you?  let  him  show 
by  his  good  life  his  works  in  meekness  of  wisdom.  14  But  if  ye 
have  bitter  jealousy  and  faction  in  your  heart,  glory  not  and  lie 
not  against  the  truth.  15  This  wisdom  is  not  a  wisdom  that  cometh 
down  from  above,  but  is  earthly,  sensual,  devilish.  16  For  where 
jealousy  and  faction  are,  there  is  confusion  and  every  vile  deed. 
17  But  the  wisdom  that  is  from  above  is  first  pure,  then  peaceable, 
gentle,  easy  to  be  intreated,  full  of  mercy  and  good  fruits,  without 
variance,  without  hypocrisy. 


“At  vesper-tide, 

One  virtuous  and  pure  in  heart  did  pray, 

‘Since  none  I  wronged  in  deed  or  word  to-day, 

From  whom  should  I  crave  pardon?  Master,  say.’ 

“A  voice  replied: 

‘From  the  sad  child  whose  joy  thou  hast  not  planned; 

The  goaded  beast  whose  friend  thou  didst  not  stand; 

The  rose  that  died  for  water  from  thy  hand.’  ” 

— Lewis. 


y&Z&ytZ  f0t  tf)t  “Almighty  God,  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 

we  humbly  acknowledge  our  manifold  sins  and  offenses  against  thee,  by 
thought  and  deed.  We  have  neglected  opportunities  of  good  which  thou 
in  thy  love  gavest  unto  us.  We  have  been  overcome  by  temptations,  from 
which  thou  wast  ready  to  guard  us.  We  have  looked  unto  men,  and  not 
unto  thee,  in  doing  our  daily  work.  We  have  thought  too  little  of  others, 
and  too  much  of  our  own  pleasure  in  all  our  plans.  We  have  lived  in 
forgetfulness  of  the  life  to  come.  But  thou  art  ever  merciful  and  gracious 
to  those  who  turn  to  thee.  So  we  now  come  to  thee  as  those  whom  thou 
wilt  not  cast  out.  Hear,  O  Lord,  and  have  mercy  upon  us,  O  Almighty  God, 
heavenly  Father,  who  forgivest  iniquity  and  transgression.  O  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  away  the  sin  of  the  world;  O  Holy 
Spirit,  who  helpest  the  infirmities  of  those  who  pray,  receive  our  humble 
confession.  Give  us  true  repentance  and  sincere  faith  in  thee.  Do  away 
our  offenses,  and  give  us  grace  to  live  hereafter  more  worthily  of  our  Chris¬ 
tian  calling;  for  the  glory  of  thy  great  Name.”  Amen. — Brooks  Foss  West - 
cott  (1825-1901). 


298 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  26 


llfumtlttg  ot  &>pmt 

« 

(Ot  “And  whosoever  shall  exalt  himself  shall  be 

humbled;  and  whosoever  shall  humble  himself  shall  be  exalted.” — Matthew 
23.  12. 

3Lt00on  (ot  tjje&mp:  Luke  14.  7-1 1. 

7  And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  those  that  were  bidden,  when 
he  marked  how  they  chose  out  the  chief  seats;  saying  unto  them, 
8  When  thou  art  bidden  of  any  man  to  a  marriage  feast,  sit  not 
down  in  the  chief  seat;  lest  haply  a  more  honorable  man  than  thou 
be  bidden  of  him,  9  and  he  that  bade  thee  and  him  shall  come  and 
say  to  thee,  Give  this  man  place;  and  then  thou  shalt  begin  with 
shame  to  take  the  lowest  place.  10  But  when  thou  art  bidden,  go 
and  sit  down  in  the  lowest  place;  that  when  he  that  hath  bidden 
thee  cometh,  he  may  say  to  thee,  Friend,  go  up  higher:  then  shalt 
thou  have  glory  in  the  presence  of  all  that  sit  at  meat  with  thee. 
11  For  every  one  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be  humbled;  and  he 
that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted. 

“I  am,  to  this  day,  ashamed  before  God,  that  I  do  so  little  to  what  I  ought  to  do* 
.  .  .  I  do  not  spend  all  my  time  so  profitably  as  I  might,  nor  all  my  strength;  at  least, 
not  all  I  might  have,  if  it  were  not  for  my  own  lukewarmness  and  remissness;  if  I  wrestled 
with  God  in  constant  and  fervent  prayer.” — John  Wesley. 

“I  believe  the  first  test  of  a  truly  great  man  is  his  humility.  I  do  not  mean,  by 
humility,  doubt  of  his  own  power,  or  hesitation  in  speaking  his  opinion.  But  really 
great  men  have  a  curious  under-sense  of  powerlessness,  feeling  that  the  greatness  is  not 
in  them  but  through  them;  that  they  could  not  do  or  be  anything  else  than  God  made 
them.  And  they  see  something  divine  and  God-made  in  every  other  man,  and  are  end¬ 
lessly,  foolishly,  incredibly  merciful — John  Ruskin. 


prater  (or  £Dap;  ‘  ‘What  have  we,  O  heavenly  Father,  that  we  have 
not  reecived  ?  Every  good  gift,  and  every  perfect  gift,  is  from  above,  and 
cometh  down  from  thee,  which  art  the  Father  of  lights.  Seeing,  then,  all 
that  we  have  is  thine,  whether  it  pertain  to  the  body  or  the  soul,  how  can 
we  be  proud,  and  boast  ourselves  of  that  which  is  none  of  our  own ;  seeing 
also  that  as  to  ^give,  so  also  to  take  away  again,  thou  art  able  and  wilt, 
whensoever  thy  gifts  be  abused,  and  thou  not  acknowledged  to  be  the  giver 
of  them?  Take,  therefore,  away  from  us  all  pride  and  haughtiness  of  mind, 
graft  in  us  true  humility,  that  we  may  acknowledge  thee  the  giver  of  all  good 
things,  be  thankful  unto  thee  for  them,  and  use  them  to  thy  glory  and  the 
profit  of  our  neighbor.  Grant  also  that  all  our  glory  and  rejoicing  may  be 
in  no  earthly  creatures,  but  in  thee  alone,  which  dost  mercy,  equity,  and 
righteousness  upon  earth.  To  thee  alone  be  all  glory.”  Amen. — Liturgies 
of  King  Edward  VI. 


299 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  27 

Bi&tung  £Dttr£dbe0  of  pttbe 


fOt  tf)t  “Pride  goeth  before  destruction, 

And  a  haughty  spirit  before  a  fall.” 

— Proverbs  16.  18. 

Heston  fottije  Soap;  i  John  2.  15-17. 

15  Love  not  the  world,  neither  the  things  that  are  in  the  world. 
If  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him. 
16  For  all  that  is  in  the  world,  the  lust  of  the  flesh  and  the  lust 
of  the  eyes  and  the  vainglory  of  life,  is  not  of  the  Father,  but  is 
of  the  world.  17  And  the  world  passeth  away,  and  the  lust  there¬ 
of  :  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of  God  abideth  forever. 


“Their  own  defects,  invisible  to  them, 

Seen  in  another,  they  at  once  condemn, 

And  though  self-idolized  is  every  case, 

Hate  their  own  likeness  in  a  brother’s  face.”  — Cozvper. 

“Try  hard  to  be  humble,  to  be  free  from  all  conceit,  to  question  your  own  opinions, 
to  give  up  your  own  way,  to  put  simplicity  first  among  all  excellences  of  character, 
to  be  ready  to  think  yourself  in  the  wrong,  to  prefer  others  to  yourself;  for  this  character 
is  nearest  to  God’s  heart.” — Archbishop  Temple. 

“A  great  deal  of  discomfort  arises  from  oversensitiveness  about  what  people  may 
say  of  you,  or  your  actions.  Many  unhappy  persons  seem  to  imagine  that  they  are 
always  in  an  amphitheater  with  the  assembled  world  as  spectators;  whereas,  all  the 
while,  they  are  playing  to  empty  benches.” — Arthur  Helps. 

ptapet  for  tlje  &>ag:  ‘  ‘Almighty  Father,  not  in  reliance  upon  righteous¬ 

ness  or  merit  in  ourselves  do  we  bring  our  supplications  before  thee,  but 
trusting  in  thine  infinite  mercy  alone.  For  what  are  we,  what  is  our  life, 
what  our  goodness,  what  our  power?  What  can  we  say  in  thy  presence? 
Are  not  all  the  mighty  men  as  naught  before  thee  and  those  of  great  renown 
as  though  they  had  never  been,  the  wisest  as  if  without  knowldge  and  men 
of  understanding  as  if  without  discernment?  Many  of  our  works  are  vain 
and  our  days  pass  away  like  a  shadow.  Therefore  we  beseech  thee,  O  our 
God,  to  help  us  banish  from  our  hearts  all  pride  and  vainglory ,  all  confidence 
in  worldly  possessions,  all  self-sufficient  leaning  upon  our  own  reason.  Fill 
us  with  the  spirit  of  meekness  and  the  grace  of  modesty,  that  we  may 

become  wise  in  the  fear  of  thee.  May  we  never  forget  that  all  we  have  and 

prize  is  but  lent  us,  a  trust  for  which  we  must  render  account  to  thee.  O 

heavenly  Father,  put  into  our  hearts  the  love  and  fear  of  thee,  that  we 

may  consecrate  our  lives  to  thy  service  and  glorify  thy  name  in  the  eyes  of 
all  men.”  Amen. 


3°° 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  28 


prate  ot  IBUcSes* 

Wn&t  (or  t f\z  2Dap;  “  But  they  that  are  minded  to  be  rich  fall  into  a 
temptation  and  a  snare  and  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  such  as  drown 
men  in  destruction  and  perdition.” — 1  Timothy  6.  9. 

(or  tfjeSDap;  Luke  12.  15-21. 

15  And  he  said  unto  them,  Take  heed,  and  keep  yourselves 
from  all  covetousness:  for  a  man’s  life  consisteth  not  in  the  abun¬ 
dance  of  the  things  which  he  possesseth.  16  And  he  spake  a  par¬ 
able  unto  them,  saying,  The  ground  of  a  certain  rich  man  brought 
forth  plentifully:  17  and  he  reasoned  within  himself,  saying,  What 
shall  I  do,  because  I  have  not  where  to  bestow  my  fruits?  18  And 
he  said,  This  will  I  do:  I  will  pull  down  my  barns,  and  build 
greater;  and  there  will  I  bestow  all  my  grain  and  my  goods.  19 
And  I  will  say  to  my  soul,  Soul,  thou  hast  much  goods  laid  up  for 
many  years;  take  thine  ease,  eat,  drink,  be  merry.  20  But  God 
said  unto  him,  Thou  foolish  one,  this  night  is  thy  soul  required  of 
thee;  and  the  things  which  thou  hast  prepared,  whose  shall  they 
be?  21  So  is  he  that  layeth  up  treasure  for  himself,  and  is  not  rich 
toward  God. 

“Wealth  is  a  means,  and  life  the  end; 

You  lose  your  hoard,  have  what  you  spend. 

For  that  unhappy  mortal  pray, 

Who  never  learned  to  give  away! 

His  heaped-up  wealth  made  him  its  slave; 

He  did  not  use,  who  never  gave.” — Saadi. 

“The  apostle  does  not  here  speak  of  gaining  riches  unjustly,  but  of  quite  another 
thing:  his  words  are  to  be  taken  in  their  plain  obvious  sense,  without  any  restriction  or 
qualification  whatsoever.  Saint  Paul  does  not  say,  ‘they  that  will  be  rich’  by  evil  means , 
by  theft,  robbery,  oppression,  or  extortion;  ‘they  that  will  be  rich’  by  fraud  or  dishonest 
art;  but  simply,  ‘they  that  will  be  rich’  these  allowing,  supposing  the  means  they  use 
to  be  ever  so  innocent,  ‘fall  into  temptation,  and  a  snare,  and  into  many  foolish  and  hurt¬ 
ful  desires,  which  drown  men  in  destruction  and  perdition.’ 

Oh  that  God  would  give  me  to  speak  right  and  forcible  words,  and  you  to  receive 
them  in  honest  and  humble  hearts!  .  .  .  After  fair  warning,  why  should  you  sink  any 
more  into  foolish  and  hurtful  desires,  desires  as  inconsistent  with  reason  as  they  are  with 
religion  itself,  desires  that  have  done  you  more  hurt  already,  than  all  the  treasures 
upon  earth  can  countervail?” — John  Wesley. 

Pt &}>tZ  (OE  tf)E  “Thou,  O  Lord,  art  the  Father  of  mercies,  and  the 

Author  of  all  blessings  we  have  now  and  at  any  time  received.  Let  us 
never  have  cause  to  repent  that  thou  hast  bestowed  them  upon  us.  Give 
unto  us  such  a  right  notion  and  esteem  of  all  the  earthly  privileges  and  en¬ 
joyments  that  we  may  never  be  .brought  under  the  power  of  any  of  them, 
but  may  constantly  use  all  of  them  to  thy  glory.  Help  us  ever  to  have  a 
care  to  lay  up  for  ourselves  a  treasure  in  heaven.  Grant  that  we  may  never 
be  high-minded,  nor  trust  in  uncertain  riches,  but  in  thee,  the  living  God, 
who  givest  us  all  things  richly  to  enjoy.  May  we  ever  be  rich  in  good 
works,  ready  to  distribute,  willing  to  communicate,  and  so  may  lay  up  for 
ourselves  a  good  foundation  against  the  time  to  come,  that  we  may  lay  hold 
on  eternal  life.  .  .  .For  thy  mercy’s  sake.”  Amen. — Nathaniel  Spinckes. 

301 


PENITENCE  OCTOBER  29 

®)e  £>tn  ot  Sngtatftutit 

(Ot  tf)t  “Give  thanks  unto  him,  and  bless  his  name.” — 

Psalm  100.  4. 

BlrgitfonfottgtSDap:  Luke  17.  n-19. 

11  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  were  on  the  way  to  Jerusalem, 
that  he  was  passing  along  the  borders  of  Samaria  and  Galilee.  12 
And  as  he  entered  into  a  certain  village,  there  met  him  ten  men 
that  were  lepers,  who  stood  afar  off:  13  and  they  lifted  up  their 
voices,  saying,  Jesus,  Master,  have  mercy  on  us.  14  And  when  he 
saw  them,  he  said  unto  them,  Go  and  show  yourselves  unto  the 
priests.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  went,  they  were  cleansed. 
15  And  one  of  them,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  healed,  turned  back, 
with  a  loud  voice  glorifying  God;  16  and  he  fell  upon  his  face  at 
his  feet,  giving  him  thanks:  and  he  was  a  Samaritan.  17  And 
Jesus  answering  said,  Were  not  the  ten  cleansed?  but  where  are 
the  nine?  18  Were  there  none  found  that  returned  to  give  glory 
to  God,  save  this  stranger?  19  And  he  said  unto  him,  Arise,  and 
go  thy  way:  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole. 

“Some  murmur  when  their  sky  is  clear 
And  wholly  bright  to  view, 

If  one  small  speck  of  dark  appear 
In  their  great  heaven  of  blue; 

And  some  with  thankful  love  are  filled 
If  but  one  streak  of  light, 

One  ray  of  God’s  good  mercy,  gild 
The  darkness  of  their  night 

“In  palaces  are  hearts  that  ask, 

In  discontent  and  pride, 

Why  life  is  such  a  dreary  task, 

And  all  good  things  denied; 

And  hearts  in  poorest  huts  admire 
How  love  has  in  their  aid 
(Love  that  not  ever  seems  to  tire) 

Such  rich  provision  made.”  • — Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 

(Ot  tl)t  “O  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father,  whose  loving-kind¬ 

ness  is  over  all  thy  works,  we  come  before  thee  in  the  thankful  acknowledg¬ 
ment  of  thy  mercies.  Thou  hast  blest  us  beyond  our  deservings;  thou  hast 
opened  thine  hand  and  filled  us  with  good ;  but  we  have  not  glorified  thee 
as  we  ought  in  thy  bounties.  In  the  blessings  conferred  upon  us  we  have  not 
discerned  thy  hand  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  gift  we  have  forgotten 
thee  the  gracious  Giver.  We  have  grown  worldly  where  thou  intendest  to 
make  us  thankful,  and  have  become  bound  to  earth  by  the  very  bands  with 
which  thy  blessed  Spirit  hath  sought  to  raise  our  hearts  and  affections  to 
heaven.  For  these  our  sins  and  infirmities  we  supplicate  thy  Fatherly  for¬ 
giveness.  We  pray  for  every  member  of  our  household.  We  pray  also 
for  the  poor  and  needy,  the  sick  and  afflicted.  Lift  up  the  light  of  thy  coun¬ 
tenance  upon  all  who  are  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  that  they  may 
look  unto  thee  and  be  saved.  Guard  us  this  and  every  day,  and  for  Jesus 
Christ’s  sake,  pardon  and  accept  us.”  Amen. — John  McVickar. 

302 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  30 
ft  2L0tol£  Spirit 


t0t  t “Blessed  are  the  meek:  for  they  shall  inherit  the 
earth.” — Matthew  5.  5. 

Et^onfOttStSDa?;  Psalms  131,  133. 

1  Jehovah,  my  heart  is  not  haughty,  nor  mine  eyes  lofty; 
Neither  do  I  exercise  myself  in  great  matters, 

Or  in  things  too  wonderful  for  me. 

2  Surely  I  have  stilled  and  quieted  my  soul ; 

Like  a  weaned  child  with  his  mother, 

Like  a  weaned  child  is  my  soul  within  me. 

3  O  Israel,  hope  in  Jehovah 

From  this  time  forth  and  for  evermore. 

133.  1  Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is 
For  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity! 

2  It  is  like  the  precious  oil  upon  the  head, 

That  ran  down  upon  the  beard, 

Even  Aaron’s  beard ; 

That  came  down  upon  the  skirt  of  his  garments; 

3  Like  the  dew  of  Hermon, 

That  cometh  down  upon  the  mountains  of  Zion: 

For  there  Jehovah  commanded  the  blessing, 

Even  life  for  evermore. 


“To  be  h  umble  and  loving — that  is  true  life.  Do  not  let  insult  harden  you,  nor 
cruelty  rob  you  of  tenderness.  If  men  wound  your  heart,  let  them  not  embitter  it;  and 
then  yours  will  be  the  victory  of  the  cross.  You  will  conquer  as  Christ  conquered,  and 
bless  as  he  blessed.” — Frederick  JV.  Robertson. 

“Plant  in  us  a  humble  mind, 

Patient,  pitiful  and  kind; 

Meek  and  lowly  let  us  be, 

Full  of  goodness,  full  of  thee.”  — Charles  Wesley. 

pt ayez  tot  tfje  2Dap;  Our  heavenly  Father,  grant  to  strengthen  us  with 
might  by  thy  Spirit  in  the  inner  man.  Even  as  the  sun  of  nature  brings 
light  to  the  world,  grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that  the  beams  of  the  Son 
of  Righteousness  may  gladden  our  souls,  and  chase  away  all  the  darkness 
of  sin.  Make  us  always  to  live  as  those  who  are  the  children  of  the  day, 
casting  off  the  works  of  darkness  and  putting  on  the  armor  of  light.  Our 
heavenly  Father,  give  us,  we  pray  thee,  this  day  in  all  respects  our  daily 
bread.  Nourish  not  our  bodies  merely  but  also  our  souls.  Inspire  our  minds. 
Quicken  us  in  every  good  work  and  make  us  diligent  in  business,  fervent  in 
spirit,  serving  the  Lord.  Prepare  us  for  the  things  that  shall  unexpectedly 
come  upon  us.  Make  us  watchful  and  prayerful.  Grant  us  a  clear  knowl¬ 
edge  of  duty  in  every  case;  and  may  we  have  hearts  forward  and  strong  in 
thy  strength  to  do  it.  Grant  unto  us  that  true  humility  of  spirit  without 
which  we  cannot  hope  to  please  thee.  From  all  the  evil  that  is  about  us 
and  from  all  the  evil  that  is  within  us  keep  us  by  thine  own  power.  In 
Jesus’  name,  we  ask  it.  Amen. 


303 


PENITENCE 


OCTOBER  31 

j&dibetance  Jftom  <2Dt tc  fe>tn£ 


(Ot  tf)t  2Da^t  “Deliver  me  from  all  my  transgressions: 

Make  me  not  the  reproach  of  the  foolish.” 

— Psalm  39.  8. 

fottjjeSDap:  Psalm  25.  7—1 1,  20,  21. 

7  Remember  not  the  sins  of  my  youth,  nor  my  transgressions; 
According  to  thy  loving-kindness  remember  thou  me, 

For  thy  goodness'  sake,  O  Jehovah. 

8  Good  and  upright  is  Jehovah: 

Therefore  will  he  instruct  sinners  in  the  way. 

9  The  meek  will  he  guide  in  justice; 

And  the  meek  will  he  teach  his  way. 

10  All  the  paths  of  Jehovah  are  loving-kindness  and  truth 
Unto  such  as  keep  his  covenant  and  his  testimonies. 

11  For  thy  name’s  sake,  O  Jehovah, 

Pardon  mine  iniquity,  for  it  is  great. 

20  Oh  keep  my  soul,  and  deliver  me: 

Let  me  not  be  put  to  shame,  for  I  take  refuge  in  thee. 

21  Let  integrity  and  uprightness  preserve  me, 

For  I  wait  for  thee. 

“Forever  round  the  mercy-seat 

The  guiding  lights  of  Love  shall  burn; 

But  what  if,  habit-bound,  thy  feet 
Shall  lack  the  will  to  turn? 

“Oh,  doom  beyond  the  saddest  guess, 

As  the  long  years  of  God  unroll, 

To  make  thy  dreary  selfishness 
The  prison  of  a  soul!” 

— John  Greenleaf  Whittier . 

“If  we  wish  to  overcome  evil,  we  must  overcome  it  by  good.  There  are  doubtless 
many  ways  of  overcoming  the  evil  in  our  hearts,  but  the  simplest,  easiest,  most  universal, 
is  to  overcome  it  by  active  occupation  in  some  good  word  or  work.” — Arthur  P.  Stanley. 

“May  we  not  only  be  delivered  from  the  outward  act  or  word  that  grieves  thee, 
but  may  the  very  springs  of  our  nature  be  purified!” — F.  B.  Meyer. 

y&ZHytZ  fot  “O  Thou  who  knowest  our  hearts,  and  who  seest 

our  temptations  and  struggles,  have  pity  upon  us  and  deliver  us  from  the 
sins  zvhich  make  war  upon  our  souls.  Thou  art  all  powerful,  and  we  are 
weak  and  erring.  Our  trust  is  in  thee,  O  thou  faithful  God.  Deliver  us 
from  the  bondage  of  evil,  and  grant  that  we  may  hereafter  be  thy  devoted 
servants,  serving  thee  in  the  freedom  of  holy  love;  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.” 
Amen. — Eugene  Bersier  (1831—1889). 


3°4 


PENITENCE 


NOVEMBER  i 

<3Dnt  Hack  of  jfettott  put# 


fOE  tf)t  $Da#t  “I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  art  neither  cold  nor 
hot:  I  would  thou  wert  cold  or  hot.” — Revelation  3.  15. 

JLt$$on  foE  tfie  2Dap;  Acts  28.  24-27. 

24  And  some  believed  the  things  which  were  spoken,  and  some 
disbelieved.  25  And  when  they  agreed  not  among  themselves,  they 
departed  after  that  Paul  had  spoken  one  word,  Well  spake  the 
Holy  Spirit  through  Isaiah  the  prophet  unto  your  fathers,  26  say¬ 
ing, 

Go  thou  unto  this  people,  and  say, 

By  hearing  ye  shall  hear,  and  shall  in  no  wise  understand; 
And  seeing  ye  shall  see,  and  shall  in  no  wise  perceive: 

27  For  this  people’s  heart  is  waxed  gross, 

And  their  ears  are  dull  of  hearing, 

And  their  eyes  they  have  closed ; 

Lest  haply  they  should  perceive  with  their  eyes, 

And  hear  with  their  ears, 

And  understand  with  their  heart, 

And  should  turn  again, 

And  I  should  heal  them. 

“Lord,  I  have  laid  my  heart  upon  thy  altar. 

But  I  cannot  get  the  wood  to  burn; 

It  hardly  flares  ere  it  begins  to  falter, 

And  to  the  dark  return. 

Old  sap,  or  night-fallen  dew,  has  damped  the  fuel; 

In  vain  my  breath  would  flame  provoke; 

Yet  see— at  every  poor  attempt’s  renewal 
To  thee  ascends  the  smoke! 

’Tis  all  I  have — smoke,  failure,  foiled  endeavor, 

Coldness  and  doubt,  and  palsied  lack: 

Such  as  I  have  I  send  thee;  perfect  Giver, 

Send  thou  thy  lightning  back!”  — George  Macdonald. 

Pt&PfC  fOt  ffjt  2Dagt  “Almighty  Father,  nothing  is  too  hard,  too  im¬ 
possible  for  thee.  Pity  and  pardon  our  cold  prayers;  accept  them  through 
our  Lord  and  our  Brother.  Have  mercy  on  those  who  join  in  thy  praise 
with  dull  tongues;  who  listen  with  dead  ears,  and  hearts  unmoved.  Have 
mercy  upon  those  of  us  whom  suffering  has  never  touched,  and  pity  never 
moved.  Pity  those  who  cannot  even  in  thy  presence  forget  their  own  little 
individualities.  We  give  thee  thanks  that  little  children  know  little  of  grief 
and  sorrow,  but.  we  mourn  for  those  to  whom  long  years  have  taught  and 
brought  no  wisdom.  We  weep  tears  of  repentance  for  our  sins  and  short¬ 
comings.  Help  us  to  be  sorry  with  the  godly  sorrow  that  needeth  not  to 
be  repented  of.  May  the  Spirit  of  the  Master  be  upon  us  and 

may  we  learn  not  to  be  ministered  unto  but  to  minister.  Let  the  growing 
years  ripen  us  in  wisdom  and  in  piety.  Increase  in  us  the  disposition  and  the 
spirit  of  praise.  Deepen  within  us  that  love  and  joy  and  peace  that  shall 
make  our  lives  redound  to  the  glory  and  the  honor  of  thy  name.  These 
things  we  ask  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  and  Master.”  Amen. — 
George  Dawson  (b.  1 86 1 ) . 


305 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  2 


€>ut  &utftcfencg  3!£  of  d3oti 

fOt  t|)C  “My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee:  for  my  power  is 

made  perfect  in  weakness.” — 2  Corinthians  12.  9. 

2l£££onfOttf)ej&Dap;  2  Corinthians  3.  1-6. 

1  Are  we  beginning  again  to  commend  ourselves?  or  need  we, 
as  do  some,  epistles  of  commendation  to  you  or  from  you?  2  Ye 
are  our  epistle,  written  in  our  hearts,  known  and  read  of  all  men; 
3  being  made  manifest  that  ye  are  an  epistle  of  Christ,  ministered 
by  us,  written  not  with  ink,  but  with  the  Spirit  of  the  living  God; 
not  in  tables  of  stone,  but  in  tables  that  are  hearts  of  flesh.  4  And 
such  confidence  have  we  through  Christ  to  God-ward:  5  not  that 
we  are  sufficient  of  ourselves,  to  account  anything  as  from  our¬ 
selves;  but  our  sufficiency  is  from  God;  6  who  also  made  us  suffi¬ 
cient  as  ministers  of  a  new  covenant;  not  of  the  letter,  but  of  the 
spirit:  for  the  letter  killeth,  but  the  spirit  giveth  life. 


“Thou,  Lord,  alone,  art  all  thy  children  need; 

And  there  is  none  beside. 

From  thee  the  streams  of  blessedness  proceed, 

In  thee  the  blest  abide, — 

Fountain  of  life  and  all-abounding  grace, 

Our  source,  our  center,  and  our  dwelling-place.” 

— Madame  Guyon. 

I 

“God  is  enough!  thou,  who  in  hope  and  fear 

Toilest  through  desert  sands  of  life,  sore  tried, 

Climb,  trustful,  over  death’s  black  ridge,  for  near 
The  bright  walls  shine;  thou  wilt  be  satisfied. 

“God  doth  suffice!  O  thou,  the  patient  one, 

Who  puttest  faith  in  him,  and  none  beside, 

Bear  yet  thy  load;  under  the  setting  sun 

The  glad  tents  gleam;  thou  wilt  be  satisfied. 

“By  God’s  gold  afternoon!  place  ye  shall  have; 

Man  is  in  loss  except  he  live  aright, 

And  help  his  fellow  to  be  firm  and  brave, 

Faithful  and  patient;  then  the  restful  night.” 

— Fr.  The  Arabian ,  Trans,  by  Edwin  Arnold. 


y&ZUlPtZ  fOt  “Almighty  Father!  When  man  has  worshiped  thee 

in  humility  and  truth  thou  hast  been  very  near.  Thou  dost  never  despise 
the  gifts  of  the  humble.  Thou  hast  looked  with  contempt  upon  the  mighty 
sacrifices  of  the  proud.  But  wherever  the  poor  and  humble  have  brought 
their  gifts,  though  but  a  turtle  dove  or  two  small  pigeons,  or  the  widow’s 
mite,  thou  hast  blessed  the  gifts  and  made  them  thine  own.  To  thee  we 
bring  penitence  and  lowliness  of  heart,  knowing  that  of  ourselves  we  can 
do  nothing  worthy  of  thee,  that  our  sufficiency  is  of  and  from  thee.  Do 
thou  be  the  object,  the  end,  the  cause,  the  reason,  of  our  worship.  Teach  us 
how  to  worship  thee,  with  what  to  worship  thee,  and  when  to  worship  thee. 
Almighty  God,  be  to  us  our  all  in  all ;  forgive  all  our  weakness,  and  endue  us 
with  strength  from  on  high.”  Amen. — George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 

306 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  3 

(Bob  flDut  Dibiiw  feiljfpljecb 

Uettfe  for  the  Dag:  “  He  will  feed  his  flock  like  a  shepherd,  he  will 
gather  the  lambs  in  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his  bosom.” — Isaiah  40.  11. 

for  tf)£  2Dag:  Ezekiel  34.  2-4,  28,  30,  31. 

2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Woe  unto  the  shepherds  of 
Israel  that  do  feed  themselves!  should  not  the  shepherds  feed  the 
sheep?  3  Ye  eat  the  fat,  and  ye  clothe  you  with  the  wool,  ye  kill 
the  fatlings;  but  ye  feed  not  the  sheep.  4  The  diseased  have  ye 
not  strengthened,  neither  have  ye  healed  that  which  was  sick, 
neither  have  ye  bound  up  that  which  was  broken,  neither  have  ye 
brought  back  that  which  was  driven  away,  neither  have  ye  sought 
that  which  was  lost;  but  with  force  and  with  rigor  have  ye  ruled 
over  them.  ...  28  And  they  shall  no  more  be  a  prey  to  the 

nations,  neither  shall  the  beasts  of  the  earth  devour  them;  but  they 
shall  dwell  securely,  and  none  shall  make  them  afraid.  ...  30 

And  they  shall  know  that  I,  Jehovah  their  God,  am  with  them,  and 
that  they,  the  house  of  Israel,  are  my  people,  saith  the  Lord  Jeho¬ 
vah.  31  And  ye  my  sheep,  the  sheep  of  my  pasture,  are  men,  and 
I  am  your  God,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

“The  King  of  love  my  Shepherd  is, 

Whose  goodness  faileth  never; 

I  nothing  lack  if  I  am  his, 

And  he  is  mine  forever. 

“Where  streams  of  living  water  flow, 

My  ransomed  soul  he  leadeth, 

And  where  the  verdant  pastures  grow 
With  food  celestial  feedeth. 

“In  death’s  dark  vale  I  fear  no  ill, 

With  thee,  dear  Lord,  beside  me; 

Thy  rod  and  staff  my  comfort  still, 

Thy  cross  before  to  guide  me. 

“And  so,  through  all  the  length  of  days, 

Thy  goodness  faileth  never; 

Good  Shepherd,  may  I  sing  thy  praise 

Within  thy  house  forever.”  — Henry  W.  Baker. 

(0t  tf)t  iSDa#;  “O  Lord  God,  our  fathers  trusted  in  thee  and  were 
not  ashamed:  and  in  thy  love  we  would  confide  forever  and  ever.  Thou  art 
our  divine  Shepherd,  in  whom  we  trust.  We  will  follow  thee  and  commit 
our  lives  to  thee.  As  we  are  weak,  surrounded  by  innumerable  perils  and 
unable  to  care  for  ourselves,  we  look  up  to  thee  in  whom  is  everlasting 
strength,  and  in  thee  we  trust.  In  sickness  and  in  health,  in  sorrow  and  in 
joy,  in  suffering  and  in  rejoicing  we  would  look  up  to  the  hills  from  whence 
cometh  our  help.  Thou  art  our  care-taker.  Thou  providest  for  all  our 
wants.  Keep  us  from  evil  and  sin.  Help  us  that  we  may  do  justly,  love 
mercy  and  walk  humbly  with  thee  our  God.  Care  for  all  who  are  in  any 
want,  or  distress,  or  sorrow  and  hasten  the  coming  of  thy  kingdom  for  Jesus 
Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. 


307 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  4 

Si  of  t  jftont  jBatu it 


Uotfe  for  t&r  2Dap:  ‘  ‘Are  not  five  sparrows  sold  for  two  pence?  and  not 
one  of  them  is  forgotten  in  the  sight  of  God.  .  .  .  Fear  not:  ye  are 

of  more  value  than  many  sparrows/’ — Luke  12.  6,  7. 

3t^Onfort5c2Dap:  Matthew  6.  25-30. 

25  Therefore  I  say  unto  you,  Be  not  anxious  for  your  life, 
what  ye  shall  eat,  or  what  ye  shall  drink;  nor  yet  for  your  body, 
what  ye  shall  put  on.  Is  not  the  life  more  than  food,  and  the  body 
than  the  raiment?  26  Behold  the  birds  of  the  heaven,  that  they 
sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns;  and  your 
heavenly  Father  feedeth  them.  Are  not  ye  of  much  more  value 
than  they?  27  And  which  of  you  by  being  anxious  can  add  one 
cubit  unto  the  measure  of  his  life?  28  And  why  are  ye  anxious 
concerning  raiment?  Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  how  they 
grow;  they  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin:  29  yet  I  say  unto  you, 
that  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one  of 
these.  30  But  if  God  doth  so  clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which 
to-day  is,  and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall  he  not  much 
more  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith? 


“I  heard  a  bird  at  break  of  day 
Sing  from  the  autumn  trees 
A  song  so  musical  and  calm, 

So  full  of  certainties, 

No  man,  I  think,  could  listen  long 
Except  upon  his  knees. 

Yet  this  was  but  a  simple  bird, 

Alone  among  dead  trees.” 

—  William  Alexander  Percy. 

y&Z&ytZ  (Ot  t f)t  SDflgi  “Almighty  God,  the  source  of  all  goodness,  who 
art  always  more  ready  to  hear  than  we  are  to  pray,  and  art  able  to  do  for 
us  above  all  that  we  ask  or  think ;  we  cast  ourselves  on  thy  fatherly  care,  and 
look  up  to  thee  for  the  supply  of  all  our  wants.  We  confess,  O  God,  that 
we  know  not  what  portion  of  earthly  blessings  may  be  suitable  or  expedient 
for  us.  Nor  do  we  presume  to  ask  of  thee  great  things.  We  have  learned 
that  we  can  trust  thee.  May  we  more  perfectly  love  thee  and  more  implicitly 
rely  upon  thy  fatherly  care.  Feed  us  with  food  convenient  for  us.  Bless 
us  with  health  of  body  and  soundness  of  mind.  Endue  us  with  skill,  and 
strength,  and  industry,  to  provide  for  ourselves  and  for  those  who  are 
dependent  on  us.  Further  our  lawful  undertakings  with  thy  help  and 
blessing,  and  grant  us  such  success  as  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight.  We  pray, 
not  only  for  ourselves,  but  for  our  fellow  men,  that  it  may  please  thee  to 
supply  all  their  need  according  to  thy  riches  in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus.  In 
his  name.”  Amen. 


308 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  5 

jfitt  Jftont  tfie  ^Dominion  o( 


(Ot  tf)£  iSDilJM  “For  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus 
made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  of  death.” — Romans  8.  2. 

2Ug£0 It  (Ot  (St  2Dap:  John  8.  31-36. 

31  Jesus  therefore  said  to  those  Jews  that  had  believed  him, 
If  ye  abide  in  my  word,  then  are  ye  truly  my  disciples;  32  and 
ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free.  33  They 
answered  unto  him,  We  are  Abraham’s  seed,  and  have  never  yet 
been  in  bondage  to  any  man:  how  sayest  thou,  Ye  shall  be  made 
free?  34  Jesus  answered  them,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
Every  one  that  committeth  sin  is  the  bondservant  of  sin.  35  And 
the  bondservant  abideth  not  in  the  house  forever:  the  son  abideth 
forever.  36  If  therefore  the  Son  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be 
free  indeed. 


“0  Thou,  to  whose  all-searching  sight 
The  darkness  shineth  as  the  light, 

Search,  prove  my  heart,  it  pants  for  thee, 

O  burst  these  bonds,  and  set  it  free! 

“Teach  me,  where’er  thy  steps  I  see, 

Dauntless,  untried,  to  follow  thee: 

O  let  thy  hand  support  me  still, 

And  lead  me  to  thy  holy  hill. 

“If  rough  and  thorny  be  the  way, 

My  strength  proportion  to  my  day; 

Till  toil,  and  grief,  and  pain  shall  cease, 

Where  all  is  calm,  and  joy,  and  peace.” 

— John  Wesley. 


“To  allow  passions,  cravings,  propensities  to  rule  us  and  govern  and  determine 
our  conduct,  is  to  become  the  worst  of  slaves.  There  is  absolutely  no  path  to  liberty 
through  wrongdoing.  The  road  is  barred  that  way.  Freedom  comes  through  disci¬ 
pline.” — Marcus  Dods. 


Ptapet  tot  tf)e  Sap:  O  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father,  may  we  as  thy  chil¬ 
dren  enter  into  our  heritage  of  freedom  from  sin’s  dominion  and  power 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Let  not  any  iniquity  have  dominion  over 
us.  Give  us  strength  to  overcome  our  inward  foes.  Deliver  us  from  all 
idolatry  of  self  and  of  the  world,  from  all  error,  pride,  and  self-will.  En¬ 
lighten  our  minds  and  empower  our  wills  that  we  may  avoid  all  secret  sin 
and  open  transgression ;  that  we  may  be  free  from  malice  and  unkindness, 
from  selfish  and  covetous  desires,  from  ingratitude  to  thee  and  to  our  neigh¬ 
bors,  from  wordly-mindedness  and  discontent.  Help  us  by  thy  grace,  that 
we  may  forgive  our  enemies,  love  our  neighbors  as  ourselves,  and  do  unto 
others  as  we  would  that  they  should  do  unto  us.  Order  our  steps  according 
to  thy  word  and  direct  our  goings  that  our  footsteps  slip  not.  Keep  our 
tongues  from  evil  and  our  lips  from  speaking  guile,  that  we  may  depart 
from  evil  and  do  good,  that  we  may  seek  peace  and  pursue  it.  Amen. 


309 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  6 


Wbt  &cfntbnttntt£  ot  pr aytt 

tot  tf)t  “They  cried  unto  Jehovah  in  their  trouble, 

And  he  delivered  them  out  of  their  distresses. ” 

— Psalm  107.  6. 


1Lt$$on  fott^t  SDag:  Psalm  22.  4,  5,  24,  27,  28. 

4  Our  fathers  trusted  in  thee: 

They  trusted,  and  thou  didst  deliver  them. 

5  They  cried  unto  thee,  and  were  delivered: 

They  trusted  in  thee,  and  were  not  put  to  shame. 

24  For  he  hath  not  despised  nor  abhorred  the  affliction  of  the 
afflicted ; 

Neither  hath  he  hid  his  face  from  him; 

But  when  he  cried  unto  him,  he  heard. 

27  All  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  remember  and  turn  unto 

Jehovah ; 

And  all  the  kindreds  of  the  nations  shall  worship  before 
thee. 

28  For  the  kingdom  is  Jehovah’s; 

And  he  is  the  ruler  over  the  nations. 

“More  things  are  wrought  by  prayer 
Than  this  world  dreams  of.  Wherefore,  let  thy  voice 
Rise  like  a  fountain  for  me  night  and  day. 

For  what  are  men  better  than  sheep  or  goats 
That  nourish  a  blind  life  within  the  brain, 

If,  knowing  God,  they  lift  not  hands  of  prayer 
Both  for  themselves  and  those  who  call  them  friends? 

For  so  the  whole  round  world  is  every  way 
Bound  by  gold  chains  about  the  feet  of  God. 

— Alfred  Tennyson. 

“It  is  prayer,  meditation,  and  converse  with  God,  that  refreshes,  restores,  and 
renews  the  temper  of  our  minds,  at  all  times,  under  all  trials,  after  all  conflicts  with  the 
world.  By  this  contact  with  the  world  unseen  we  receive  continual  accesses  of  strength. 
As  our  day,  so  is  our  strength.  Without  this  healing  and  refreshing  of  spirit,  duties 
grow  to  be  burdens,  the  events  of  life  chafe  our  temper,  employments  lower  the  tone  of 
our  minds,  and  we  become  fretful,  irritable,  and  impatient.” — H.  E.  Manning. 

draper  tot  tf)e  &>ap:  O  thou  blessed  Christ,  our  Lord  and  Master,  we 
thank  thee  for  thy  example  of  prayer.  How  often  didst  thou  in  the  days 
of  thy  flesh  go  apart  into  lonely  places  for  prayer,  making  the  mountains  of 
Galilee  and  the  gardens  of  Gethsemane  forever  holy  in  the  sight  of  men 
because  of  thy  intercession !  Thou  didst  even  spend  whole  nights  apart  in 
communion  with  thy  Father  in  preparation  for  days  in  which  thou  didst 
engage  in  thy  Father’s  work.  We  remember  also  that  thou  didst  rebuke 
thy  disciples  for  their  unbelief,  reminding  them  that  difficult  undertakings 
could  be  accomplished  only  by  prayer  and  faith.  Help  us  to  emulate  thy 
example.  Teach  us  to  pray.  When  thou  dost  call  us  to  difficult  tasks  for 
thee  remind  us  of  the  source  of  help  we  have  in  prayer.  Enable  us  by 
thy  grace  so  to  live  that  our  lives  may  be  one  unceasing  prayer  to  thee.  In 
thy  name.  Amen. 


3IQ 


TRUST  NOVEMBER  7 

d5oti  t fjt  eternal  HiQfjt 

Uer^e  (or  tfje  £Da$t  “Jeh°vah  will  be  unto  thee  an  everlasting  light.” — 
Isaiah  60.  19. 

Eetfshm  (or  t&e  SDap:  Psalm  27.  1;  Micah  7.  7-9. 

I  Jehovah  is  my  light  and  my  salvation; 

Whom  shall  I  fear? 

Jehovah  is  the  strength  of  my  life; 

Of  whom  shall  I  be  afraid? 

7.  7  But  as  for  me,  I  will  look  unto  Jehovah;  I  will  wait  for  the 
God  of  my  salvation:  my  God  will  hear  me.  8  Rejoice  not  against 
me,  O  mine  enemy:  when  I  fall,  I  shall  arise;  when  I  sit  in  dark¬ 
ness,  Jehovah  will  be  a  light  unto  me.  9  I  will  bear  the  indignation 
of  Jehovah,  because  I  have  sinned  against  him,  until  he  plead  my 
cause  and  execute  judgment  for  me:  he  will  bring  me  forth  to  the 
light,  and  I  shall  behold  his  righteousness. 


“Thou  art,  0  God,  the  life  and  light 
Of  all  this  wondrous  world  we  see; 

Its  glow  by  day,  its  smile  by  night, 

Are  but  reflections  caught  from  thee. 

Where’er  we  turn,  thy  glories  shine, 

And  all  things  bright  and  fair  are  thine.” 

—  Thomas  More . 


“Should  Fate  command  me  to  the  farthest  verge 
Of  the  green  earth,  to  distant  barbarous  climes, 

Rivers  unknown  to  song;  ’tis  naught  to  me; 

Since  God  is  ever  present,  ever  felt, 

In  the  void  waste,  as  in  the  city  full; 

And  where  he  vital  breathes,  there  must  be  joy. 

...  I  cannot  go 

Where  Universal  Love  not  smiles  around, 

Sustaining  all  yon  orbs,  and  all  their  suns, 

From  seeming  evil  still  educing  good, 

And  better  thence  again,  and  better  still, 

In  infinite  progression.  But  I  lose 
Myself  in  him,  in  Light  ineffable; 

Come,  then,  expressive  silence,  muse  his  praise.” 

—  Thomson. 


Pta ytl  (ot  tljt  iSDap:  “O  God,  the  true  Light  of  believers,  the  eternal 
Glory  of  the  just,  whose  light  never  setteth,  and  whose  brightness  knows 
no  bounds,  grant  us  to  live  in  thy  glory,  and  to  enter  into  thine  eternity, 
that  a*s,  after  the  night  past,  thou  hast  caused  us  to  see  the  light,  so  thou 
mayest  bid  us  to  come  to  that  blessed  and  everlasting  day;  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son,  who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  thee,  world  without 
end.”  Amen. — Ambrosian  Manual. 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  8 


C3o y*  mill  for  tlje  Ration 

l^rr^r  for  tf)C  SDagt  “He  will  not  fail  nor  be  discouraged,  till  he  have 
set  justice  in  the  earth.” — Isaiah  42.  4. 

on  for  tSeSDap:  Isaiah  51-  4—6. 

4  Attend  unto  me,  O  my  people;  and  give  ear  unto  me,  O  my 
nation:  for  a  law  shall  go  forth  from  me,  and  I  will  establish  my 
justice  for  a  light  of  the  peoples.  5  My  righteousness  is  near,  my 
salvation  is  gone  forth,  and  mine  arms  shall  judge  the  peoples; 
the  isles  shall  wait  for  me,  and  on  mine  arm  shall  they  trust.  6  Lift 
up  your  eyes  to  the  heavens,  and  look  upon  the  earth  beneath; 
for  the  heavens  shall  vanish  away  like  smoke,  and  the  earth  shall 
wax  old  like  a  garment;  and  they  that  dwell  therein  shall  die  in 
like  manner:  but  my  salvation  shall  be  forever,  and  my  righteous¬ 
ness  shall  not  be  abolished. 

“God  of  the  nations,  who  from  dawn  of  days 
Hath  led  thy  people  in  their  widening  ways, 

Through  whose  deep  purpose  stranger  thousands  stand 
Here  in  the  borders  of  our  promised  land; 

“Thy  hand  hast  led  across  the  hungry  sea 
The  eager  peoples  flocking  to  be  free, 

And  from  the  breeds  of  earth,  thy  silent  sway 
Fashions  the  nation  of  the  broadening  day. 

“Then  for  thy  grace  to  grow  in  brotherhood, 

For  hearts  aflame  to  serve  thy  destined  good, 

For  faith,  and  will  to  win  what  faith  shall  see, 

God  of  thy  people,  hear  us  cry  to  thee.”  — W.  Russell  Bowie. 

pta^t  for  tfie  SDap:  “  O  Lord,  who  by  thy  holy  apostles  hast  commanded 
us  to  make  prayers  and  intercessions  for  all  men,  we  implore  thy  blessing 
more  especially  upon  this  our  country,  upon  its  government  and  upon  its 
people.  May  thy  Holy  Spirit  be  with  all  who  are  in  authority.  Grant  that 
they  may  govern  in  thy  faith  and  fear,  striving  to  put  down  all  evil,  and  to 
encourage  and  support  all  that  is  good.  Give  thy  Spirit  of  wisdom  to  those 
whose  business  it  is  to  make  laws  for  us.  Grant  that  they  may  understand 
and  feel  how  great  a  work  thou  hast  given  them  to  do,  that  they  may  not 
do  it  lightly  or  foolishly,  or  from  any  evil  passion,  or  in  ignorance;  but 
gravely,  soberly,  and  with  a  godly  spirit,  enacting  always  things  just,  and 
things  wise,  and  things  merciful,  to  the  putting  away  of  all  wrong  and 
oppression,  and  to  the  advancement  of  the  true  welfare  of  thy  people.  Give 
peace  in  our  time,  O  Lord.  Preserve  both  us  and  our  government  from  the 
evil  spirit  of  ambition  and  pride,  and  teach  us  to  value  and  to  labor  with 
all  sincerity,  to  preserve  peace  at  home  and  peace  with  all  nations,  showing 
forth  a  spirit  of  meekness,  as  becomes  those  who  call  themselves  Christ’s 
servants.  Save  us  from  all  those  national  sins  which  expose  us  most  justly 
to  thy  heavy  judgments.  .  .  .  These  things  and  all  else  which  may  be 
good  for  our  temporal,  and  for  our  spiritual  welfare,  we  humbly  beseech 
thee  to  grant,  in  the  name  and  for  the  sake  of  thy  dear  Son,  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord.”  Amen. — Thomas  Arnold  (1795-1842). 

312 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  9 

C5oti^  Imotole&ge  of 


mz$t  for  tfje  2Dap:  “  But  thou,  O  Jehovah,  knowest  me;  thou  seest  me, 
and  triest  my  heart.” — Jeremiah  12.  3. 

3Us»£on  f or  tfje  2Dap:  Psalm  139.  1-7. 

1  O  Jehovah,  thou  hast  searched  me,  and  known  me. 

2  Thou  knowest  my  downsitting  and  mine  uprising, 

Thou  understandest  my  thought  afar  off. 

3  Thou  searchest  out  my  path  and  my  lying  down, 

And  art  acquainted  with  all  my  ways. 

4  For  there  is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue, 

But,  lo,  O  Jehovah,  thou  knowest  it  altogether. 

5  Thou  hast  beset  me  behind  and  before, 

And  laid  thy  hand  upon  me. 

6  Such  knowledge  is  too  wonderful  for  me; 

It  is  high,  I  cannot  attain  unto  it. 

7  Whither  shall  I  go  from  thy  Spirit? 

Or  whither  shall  I  flee  from  thy  presence? 


“Wherever  He  may  guide  me, 

No  want  shall  turn  me  back; 

My  Shepherd  is  beside  me, 

And  nothing  can  I  lack. 

His  wisdom  ever  waketh, 

His  sight  is  never  dim, — 

He  knows  the  way  he  taketh, 

And  I  will  walk  with  him.”  — A.  L.  Waring. 

“We  are  living  out  these  lives  of  ours  too  much  apart  from  God.  We  toil  on  dis¬ 
mally,  as  if  the  making  or  the  marring  of  our  destinies  rested  wholly  with  ourselves. 
It  is  not  so.  We  are  not  the  lonely,  orphaned  creatures  we  let  ourselves  suppose  our¬ 
selves  to  be.  The  earth,  rolling  on  its  way  through  space,  does  not  go  unattended. 
The  Maker  and  Controller  of  it  is  with  it,  and  around  it,  and  upon  it.  He  is  with  us 
here  and  now.  He  knows  us  infinitely  more  thoroughly  than  we  know  ourselves.  He 
loves  us  better  than  we  have  ever  dared  to  believe  could  be  possible.” — William  R. 
Huntington. 

f0t  SDfty;  “O  thou  who  art  not  only  our  God  but  also  our 
Father,  we  thank  thee  that  thou  dost  encourage  us  to  draw  near  to  thee  as 
thy  children.  Thy  knowledge  of  us  is  perfect.  Thou  knowest  us  altogether. 
Thou  knowest  all  our  sins.  Make  us  to  know  them  also  and  to  feel  their 
greatness.  Show  us  where  we  have  been  wrong.  Bring  to  light  our  hidden 
iniquities.  We  acknowledge  the  guilt  of  our  evil  thoughts,  our  unholy 
desires,  our  secret  transgressions.  Pardon  us,  O  our  Father  for  Jesus’  sake. 
Thou  art  acquainted  with  all  our  needs.  Every  trial,  every  sorrow,  every 
craving  of  our  hearts  is  known  to  thee.  We  are  weak:  do  thou  strengthen 
us.  We  are  poor:  do  thou  enrich  us.  We  come  to  thee  in  all  our  emptiness: 
do  thou  fill  us  out  of  thy  fullness.  O  Lord,  help  us  to  live  nearer  to  thee 
day  by  day.  Keep  us  under  the  blessed  influence  of  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Make 
us  to  be  constantly  growing  in  grace.  Forgetting  those  things  that  are  behind 
may  we  ever  press  forward  toward  the  prize  of  our  high  calling  in  Christ 
Jesus.  In  his  name,”  Amen. — Ashton  Oxenden  (1808-1892). 

3r3 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  io 


0 tit  3Libe&  in  tf\c  Isanti  of  C5oti 

fOt  “But  I  trusted  in  thee,  O  Jehovah: 

I  said,  Thou  art  my  God. 

My  times  are  in  thy  hand.” 

— Psalm  31.  14,  15a. 

JLt$$0n  for  tf)t  2Dap:  1  Kings  8.  22-24,  57?  58- 

22  And  Solomon  stood  before  the  altar  of  Jehovah  in  the  pres¬ 
ence  of  all  the  assembly  of  Israel,  and  spread  forth  his  hands 
toward  heaven:  23  and  he  said,  O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  there 
is  no  God  like  thee,  in  heaven  above,  or  on  earth  beneath;  who 
keepest  covenant  and  loving-kindness  with  thy  servants,  that  walk 
before  thee  with  all  their  heart;  24  who  hast  kept  with  thy  servant 
David  my  father  that  which  thou  didst  promise  him:  yea,  thou 
spakest  with  thy  mouth,  and  hast  fulfilled  it  with  thy  hand,  as  it 
is  this  day. 

57  Jehovah  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers: 
let  him  not  leave  us,  nor  forsake  us;  58  that  he  may  incline  our 
hearts  unto  him,  to  walk  in  all  his  ways,  and  to  keep  his  command¬ 
ments,  and  his  statutes,  and  his  ordinances,  which  he  commanded 
our  fathers. 


“I  am  glad  to  think 

I  am  not  bound  to  make  the  world  go  right, 

But  only  to  discover  and  to  do, 

With  cheerful  heart,  the  work  that  God  appoints.” 

— Jean  Ingelow. 

“Are  we  living  out  God’s  thought  for  us,  what  he  had  in  view  when  he  made  us  and 
sent  us  thither?  Are  we  doing  in  this  world  what  he  wants  us  to  do?  These  are  im¬ 
portant  questions,  and  we  should  not  stop  short  of  honest  answers  to  them,  for  we  shall  , 
have  to  account  to  God  at  the  end  for  the  way  we  have  fulfilled  our  mission.” — J.  R. 
Miller. 

fOt  tf)Z  Almighty  God,  we  are  glad  to  think  that  all  our 

affairs  are  in  thy  fatherly  hand.  It  is  our  pleasure  to  believe  that  our  lives 
are  planned  of  thee.  Let  thy  will  rule  all  things  for  us,  and  give  us  what 
thou  seest  best  for  our  welfare.  We  seek  not  great  things  for  ourselves  in 
this  world,  but  rather  would  we  choose  that  good  part  which  shall  never 
be  taken  from  us.  Give  us  grace,  O  Lord,  to  live  not  to  please  ourselves 
but  thee,  the  living  God,  who  givest  us  richly  all  things  to  enjoy.  May  no 
discontent  or  pride  or  envy  lurk  in  our  hearts.  May  no  word  of  ill  will  or 
of  disparagement  of  others  pass  our  lips.  May  no  unseemly  lightness,  fear 
or  idleness  mark  our  conduct,  but  in  all  things  may  we  live  as  becomes  those 
who  are  children  of  the  Father,  whose  exemplar  and  elder  brother  is  Jesus 
Christ.  Grant,  we  pray  thee,  to  every  member  of  this  family  and  to  all  our 
friends,  wherever  they  may  be,  thy  peace  and  heavenly  consolation.  Make  us 
to  be  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  loving  and  serving  thee  on  earth,  and  pre¬ 
pared  when  we  have  served  our  generation  by  the  will  of  God  for  those 
eternal  habitations  which  thou  hast  promised  to  thy  faithful  servants  by  and 
through  thy  Son,  our  Saviour.  In  his  name.  Amen. 

3H 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  n 


Casting  GDuz  Carr  flUpon  (Boti 

Urrgir  (or  tfjr  SDa^t  “Casting  all  your  anxiety  upon  him,  because  he  careth 
for  you.” — i  Peter  5.  7. 

EriSi0on(ort!)r2Da^:  Matthew  6.  25-33. 

25  Therefore  I  say  unto  you,  Be  not  anxious  for  your  life, 
what  ye  shall  eat,  or  what  ye  shall  drink;  nor  yet  for  your  body, 
what  ye  shall  put  on.  Is  not  the  life  more  than  the  food,  and  the 
body  than  the  raiment?  26  Behold  the  birds  of  the  heaven,  that 
they  sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns;  and  your 
heavenly  Father  feedeth  them.  Are  not  ye  of  much  more  value 
than  they?  27  And  which  of  you  by  being  anxious  can  add  one 
cubit  unto  the  measure  of  his  life?  28  And  why  are  ye  anxious  con¬ 
cerning  raiment?  Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  how  they  grow; 
they  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin:  29  yet  I  say  unto  you,  that 
even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one  of  these. 
30  But  if  God  doth  so  clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which  to-day  is, 
and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall  he  not  much  more  clothe 
you,  O  ye  of  little  faith?  31  Be  not  therefore  anxious,  saying, 
What  shall  we  eat?  or,  What  shall  we  drink?  or,  Wherewithal  shall 
we  be  clothed?  32  For  after  all  these  things  do  the  Gentiles  seek; 
for  your  heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these 
things.  33  But  seek  ye  first  his  kingdom,  and  his  righteousness; 
and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you. 


“Just  to  leave  in  his  dear  hand 
Little  things, 

All  we  cannot  understand, 

All  that  stings! 

Just  to  let  him  take  the  care 
Sorely  pressing, 

Finding  all  we  let  him  bear 
Changed  to  blessing. 

This  is  all,  and  yet  the  way 

Marked  by  him  who  loves  thee  best! 

Secret  of  a  happy  day. 

Secret  of  his  promised  rest.”  — Frances  Ridley  Havergal . 

ptagft  tor  tlje  &>ap:  “  Our  Father,  we  join  together  as  a  household  to  ask 
thee  to  be  with  us  as  a  father  with  his  children.  O  enable  us  to  look  up  to 
thee  as  children  to  a  father.  Keep  us  in  comfort  and  safety  this  day.  Order 
all  our  steps  for  us.  Let  there  be  nothing,  O  our  Father,  in  our  life  as  a 
family,  to  grieve  thy  Spirit,  or  to  drive  away  thy  blessing.  Show  unto  us 
what  we  owe  to  one  another,  and  make  us  kind,  gentle,  and  helpful  to  each 
other.  Keep  us  from  all  fretfulness,  sinful  anger,  and  rash  speech.  Guard 
us  against  error  and  mistakes,  and  give  us  in  all  things  the  wisdom  that 
cometh  from  above.  O  God,  give  thy  blessing  to  our  labors  this  day,  and 
help  us  to  engage  in  them  with  contented  minds;  for  thou,  Lord,  hath  given 
us  our  work  to  do.  Help  us  that  we  may  not  be  anxious  for  the  things  of 
this  life.  Deliver  us  from  worry  and  fretfulness.  May  we  cast  our  care 
upon  thee,  knowing  that  thou  carest  for  us.  In  Jesus’  name.”  Amen. 

3T5 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  12 


Rill  tlTfimgtf  Oittorft  ^ogetfjet  for  ($00 ti 

Urt£»t  for  tf)t  “And  we  know  that  to  them  that  love  God  all 

things  work  together  for  good.” — Romans  8.  28. 

for  tjjr  Soap;  I  John  3.  1,  2,  7,  8;  2  Corinthians  4.  16-18. 

1  Behold  what  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon 
us,  that  we  should  be  called  children  of  God;  and  such  we  are.  For 
this  cause  the  world  knoweth  us  not,  because  it  knew  him  not. 
2  Beloved,  now  are  we  children  of  God,  and  it  is  not  yet  made  mani¬ 
fest  what  we  shall  be.  We  know  that,  if  he  shall  be  manifested, 
we  shall  be  like  him;  for  we  shall  see  him  even  as  he  is. 
7  My  little  children,  let  no  man  lead  you  astray:  he  that  doeth 
righteousness  is  righteous,  even  as  he  is  righteous:  8  he  that  doeth 
sin  is  of  the  devil;  for  the  devil  sinneth  from  the  beginning.  To 
this  end  was  the  Son  of  God  manifested,  that  he  might  destroy 
the  works  of  the  devil. 

4.  16  Wherefore  we  faint  not;  but  though  our  outward  man  is 
decaying,  yet  our  inward  man  is  renewed  day  by  day.  17  For  our 
light  affliction,  which  is  for  the  moment,  worketh  for  us  more  and 
more  exceedingly  an  eternal  weight  of  glory;  18  while  we  look  not 
at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen: 
for  the  things  which  are  seen  are  temporal;  but  the  things  which 
are  not  seen  are  eternal. 

“  ‘All  things  work  together.’  .  .  .  Many  different  colors  in  themselves  raw  and 
unsightly  are  required  to  weave  the  harmonizing  patterns.  .  .  .  Take  a  thread  sep¬ 
arately  and  there  may  be  neither  use  nor  beauty  discernible.  But  complete  the  web, 
and  you  see  how  perfect  and  symmetrical  is  the  result.” — J.  R.  AlacDuff. 

“In  his  vast  work  for  good  or  ill, 

The  undone  and  the  done  he  blends, 

With  whatsoever  woof  we  fill, 

To  our  weak  hands  his  might  he  lends, 

And  gives  the  thread  beneath  his  eye 

The  texture  of  eternity.”  — Lucy  Larcom. 

for  tf)t  “We  thank  thee,  O  God,  for  all  thy  blessings  and 

for  the  tokens  of  thy  goodness  toward  us.  Every  day  we  receive  of  the  full¬ 
ness  of  thy  bounty;  by  thy  protection  we  have  fared  safely  through  the  dangers 
that  beset  our  paths.  When  we  are  tried  by  sorrows  and  days  of  anguish  are 
allotted  unto  us,  it  is  not  that  thou  hast  forsaken  us.  Thine  eye  is  ever  upon 
us  and  thine  arm  upholds  us.  In  thine  own  time,  O  God,  we  shall  clearly  see , 
and  declare  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  thee. 
O  Lord,  be  merciful  to  us  in  our  failings  and  trespasses,  and  when  we  go 
astray  help  us  to  find  our  way  back  to  thee.  Lead  us  to  do  what  in  us  lies 
to  lead  unto  the  right  path  the  erring  and  the  wayward.  May  we  cherish  a 
good  conscience  above  all  worldly  gain,  and  a  healthy  soul  above  sensual 
gratification.  May  we  be  blessed  by  thy  favor  so  to  order  our  lives  that  at 
eventide  we  shall  look  back  with  tranquilness  upon  the  world  we  leave  and 
find  in  the  world  we  enter  that  perfect  rest  which  thou  hast  prepared  for 
them  that  love  thee.”  Amen. 


316 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  13 


Bigfjttoug  SDtodl  in  Safety 

Uettfe  tot  t&e  &>ag:  “  The  beloved  of  Jehovah  shall  dwell  in  safety  by 

him  ; 

He  covereth  him  all  the  day  long.” 

— Deuteronomy  33.  12. 

%t$0on  fot  tf) t  SDap:  Isaiah  33.  13-16. 

13  Hear,  ye  that  are  far  off,  what  I  have  done;  and,  ye  that  are 
near,  acknowledge  my  might.  14  The  sinners  in  Zion  are  afraid; 
trembling  hath  seized  the  godless  ones:  Who  among  us  can  dwell 
with  the  devouring  fire?  who  among  us  can  dwell  with  everlasting 
burnings?  15  He  that  walketh  righteously,  and  speaketh  uprightly; 
he  that  despiseth  the  gain  of  oppressions,  that  shaketh  his  hands 
from  taking  a  bribe,  that  stoppeth  his  ears  from  hearing  of  blood, 
and  shutteth  his  eyes  from  looking  upon  evil:  16  he  shall  dwell 
on  high;  his  place  of  defense  shall  be  the  munitions  of  rocks;  his 
bread  shall  be  given  him;  his  waters  shall  be  sure. 


The  more  simply  you  live,  the  more  secure  is  your  future;  you  are  less  at  the  mercy 
of  surprises  and  reverses.  An  illness  or  a  period  of  idleness  does  not  suffice  to  dispossess 
you;  a  change  of  position,  even  considerable,  does  not  put  you  to  confusion.  Having 
simple  needs,  you  find  it  less  painful  to  accustom  yourself  to  the  hazards  of  fortune. 
You  remain  a  man,  though  you  lose  your  office  or  your  income,  because  the  foundation 
on  which  your  life  rests  is  not  your  table,  your  cellar,'  your  horses,  your  goods  and  chat¬ 
tels,  or  your  money.  In  adversity  you  will  not  act  like  a  nursling  deprived  of  its  bottle 
and  rattle.  Stronger,  better  armed  for  the  struggle,  presenting,  like  those  with  shaven 
heads,  less  advantage  to  the  hands  of  your  enemy,  you  will  also  be  of  more  profit  to 
your  neighbor.” — Charles  Wagner. 

ptaper  tot  tf)e  2Dap:  “  Eternal  God,  Father  of  men  and  angels,  by  whose 
care  and  providence  we  are  preserved  and  blessed,  comforted  and  assisted, 
we  heartily  thank  thee  for  the  many  temporal  and  spiritual  mercies  thou  hast 
bestowed  upon  us  this  day.  Suffer  us  not  to  be  forgetful  of  thy  benefits; 
and  though  we  are  not  worthy  of  the  least  of  them,  be  pleased  still  to  remem¬ 
ber  us  for  good.  O  God,  aid  us  by  thy  grace,  that  we  may  walk  before 
thee  righteously,  speaking  the  truth  in  uprightness  and  despising  the  gain 
of  oppression.  Thus  may  we  be  assured  of  thy  protecting  care.  O  thou 
keeper  of  Israel,  who  never  slumberest,  watch  over  us,  and  over  all  who  are 
near  and  dear  to  us,  this  night.  Shield  us  from  all  harm ;  keep  us  from  all 
sin;  and  whether  we  sleep  or  wake,  let  us  live  with  thee.  Fulfill  thy  promise, 
that  thou  wilt  never  leave  us  nor  forsake  us.  Give  ear,  O  God,  to  our  humble 
supplications,  for  the  sake  of  our  only  Mediator,  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom, 
with  thee  and  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  honor  and  glory  forevermore.”  Amen. 


317 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  14 
Security  ot  CSoblmtste 


fOt  tf )t  “But  whoso  hearkeneth  unto  me  shall  dwell  securely, 

And  shall  be  quiet  without  fear  of  evil.” 

— Proverbs  I.  33. 


3U££on  for  tije  Soap:  Psalm  1. 


1  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel  of  the 

wicked, 

Nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sinners, 

Nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  scoffers. 

2  But  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  Jehovah; 

And  on  his  law  doth  he  meditate  day  and  night. 

3  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  streams  of  water, 
That  bringeth  forth  its  fruit  in  its  season, 

Whose  leaf  also  doth  not  wither; 

And  whatsoever  he  doeth  shall  prosper. 

4  The  wicked  are  not  so ; 

But  are  like  the  chaff  which  the  wind  driveth  away. 

5  Therefore  the  wicked  shall  not  stand  in  the  judgment, 
Nor  sinners  in  the  congregation  of  the  righteous. 

6  For  Jehovah  knoweth  the  way  of  the  righteous; 

But  the  way  of  the  wicked  shall  perish. 


“No  harm  can  come  to  a  good  man,  either  in  this  world  or  in  that  which  is  to  come.” 
— Socrates. 


“When  God  is  in  the  midst  of  a  kingdom  or  city  he  makes  it  firm  as  Mount  Sion 
that  cannot  be  removed.  When  he  is  in  the  midst  of  a  soul,  though  calamities  throng 
about  it  on  all  hands,  and  roar  like  the  billows  of  the  sea,  yet  there  is  a  constant  calm 
within,  such  a  peace  as  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  That  is  the  way 
to  be  immovable  in  the  midst  of  troubles,  as  a  rock  amidst  the  waves.” — Archbishop 
Leighton. 

“To  live  in  the  presence  of  great  truths,  to  be  dealing  with  eternal  laws,  to  be  led 
by  permanent  ideals — that  is  what  keeps  a  man  patient  when  the  world  ignores  him, 
and  calm  and  unspoiled  when  the  world  praises  him.” — Francis  G.  Peabody. 


Ptapet  (ot  tfit  Soap:  Our  heavenly  Father,  receive  into  thy  keeping,  we 
pray  thee,  our  lives  and  the  lives  of  our  loved  ones.  We  seek  to  know  and 
do  thy  will.  We  would  have  thee  as  our  Counselor  and  Guide;  thy  Son 
our  Saviour,  our  Companion  and  our  Friend.  Help  us  that  we  may  turn 
aside  from  all  the  ways  of  evil  and  walk  ever  in  the  paths  of  righteousness 
and  truth.  May  we  abhor  every  false  way.  Then  shall  we  be  quiet  without 
fear,  for  thy  protective  care  shall  be  round  about  us.  We  shall  be  preserved 
from  harm,  from  pestilence  and  famine  and  destruction.  We  shall  be  freed 
from  care  and  worry.  May  we  readily  forgive  those  who  wrong  us,  and 
seek  forgiveness  of  those  whom  we  have  wronged.  So  shall  thy  blessing 
attend  us,  and  thy  peace,  O  God,  abide  within  us.  Amen. 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  15 

ftbftifng  m  Cf)us» t 


$£££»£  fOt  tf)£  “And  he  that  keepeth  his  commandments  abideth 

in  him,  and  he  in  him.” — 1  John  3.  24. 

tot  tfitSDap:  John  15.  1—7* 

i  I  am  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the  husbandman.  2 
Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  he  taketh  it  away: 
and  every  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  cleanseth  it,  that  it  may 
bear  more  fruit.  3  Already  ye  are  clean  because  of  the  word  which 
X  have  spoken  unto  you.  4  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the 
branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it  abide  in  the  vine;  so 
neither  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me.  5  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the 
branches:  He  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  beareth 
much  fruit:  for  apart  from  me  ye  can  do  nothing.  6  If  a  man 
abide  not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  withered ;  and 
they  gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire,  and  they  are  burned. 
7  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ask  whatsoever  ye 
will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you. 

“Where  but  in  thee  have  we  a  covert  from  storm,  or  shadow  from  the  heat  of  life? 
In  our  manifold  temptations,  thou  alone  knowest  and  art  even  nigh;  in  sorrow  thy  pity 
revives  the  fainting  soul,  in  our  prosperity  and  ease  it  is  thy  spirit  only  that  can  wean 
us  from  our  pride  and  keep  us  low.” — James  Martineau. 

“As  some  rare  perfume  in  a  vase  of  clay 

Pervades  it  with  a  fragrance  not  its  own, 

So,  when  thou  dwellest  in  a  mortal  soul, 

All  heaven’s  own  sweetness  seems  around  it  thrown. 

“Abide  in  me!  There  have  been  moments  blest, 

When  I  have  heard  thy  voice  and  felt  thy  power; 

Then  evil  lost  its  grasp;  and  passion,  hushed, 

Owned  the  divine  enchantment  of  the  hour. 

“Th  ese  were  but  seasons,  beautiful  and  rare: 

Abide  in  me,  and  they  shall  ever  be! 

Fulfill  at  once  thy  precept  and  my  prayer: 

Come,  and  abide  in  me,  and  I  in  thee!”  — Mrs.  H.  B.  Stowe. 

$Z&ytZ  (ot  t “O  thou  that  hearest  prayer,  unto  thee  shall  all  flesh 
come.  Blessed  be  thou,  O  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
hast  blessed  us  in  him  with  all  spiritual  blessings.  Give  us  grace  continually 
to  abide  in  Christ ,  that  we  may  bear  much  fruit.  Grant  that  in  everything 
we  may  be  enriched  by  him.  And  to  this  end  convince  us  of  our  need  of 
him ;  show  us  his  divine  fullness  and  his  sufficiency  for  our  spiritual  wants ; 
cause  us  to  be  persuaded  in  our  hearts  that  there  is  no  salvation  in  any 
other ;  and  dispose  us  to  receive  and  rest  on  him  alone  as  able  and  willing  to 
save  us  unto  the  uttermost.  God  of  all  grace,  enable  us  this  day  and  all 
the  days  of  our  sojourning  in  the  body,  to  live  by  faith  in  the  Son  of  God, 
who  loved  us  and  gave  himself  for  us.  And  whatsoever  we  do,  in  word  or 
deed,  dispose  us  to  do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  giving  thanks  to 
God,  even  to  the  Father,  by  him.  In  his  name.”  Amen. 

3X9 


TRUST 


NOVEMBER  16 


JliQfit  in  tfie  dEbtmno;  ot  Hitt 

PttjSfc  f0t  “It  shall  come  to  pass,  that  at  evening  time  there 

shall  be  light.” — Zechariah  14.  7. 

ilegteonCottfjei&Dap:  Psalm  92.  12-15. 

12  The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm-tree: 

He  shall  grow  like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon. 

13  They  are  planted  in  the  house  of  Jehovah; 

They  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God. 

14  They  shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age; 

They  shall  be  full  of  sap  and  green: 

15  To  show  that  Jehovah  is  upright; 

He  is  my  rock,  and  there  is  no  unrighteousness  in  him. 


“At  evening  time  there  shall  be  light; 

For  God  hath  said:  ‘So  let  it  be!’ 

Fear,  doubt,  and  anguish  take  their  flight, 

His  glory  now  is  risen  on  me; 

Mine  eyes  shall  his  salvation  see; 

Tis  evening  time,  and  there  is  light.” 

— James  Montgomery. 

“It  is  the  toil-worn  man  that  knows  the  worth  of  repose;  it  is  the  jaded  pilgrim  that 
understands  best  what  it  must  be  to  sit  down  at  home;  and  as  we  go  on,  year  after  year 
till  our  hearts  begin  to  grow  a  little  weary,  there  is  music,  growing  always  sweeter,  in 
the  ancient  words  of  the  patient  patriarch,  ‘There  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and 
the  weary  are  at  rest.’  ” — Anonymous. 

“There  is  a  peculiar  simplicity  of  heart,  and  a  touching  singleness  of  purpose,  in 
Christian  old  age  which  has  ripened  gradually  and  not  fitfully.  It  is  then  that  the 
somewhat  austere  and  sour  character  of  growing  strength,  moral  and  intellectual,  mel¬ 
lows  into  the  rich  ripeness  of  an  old  age  made  sweet  and  tolerant  by  experience;  it  is 
then  that  man  returns  to  first  principles.  There  comes  a  love  more  pure  and  deep  than 
the  boy  could  ever  feel;  there  comes  a  conviction,  with  a  strength  beyond  that  which 
the  boy  could  ever  know,  that  the  earlier  lesson  of  life  is  infinite — Christ  is  all  in  all.” 
— Frederick  W.  Robertson. 

fOt  “O  Lord,  who  art  the  light,  the  way,  the  truth, 

the  life;  in  whom  there  is  no  darkness,  error,  vanity,  nor  death:  the  light, 
without  which  there  is  darkness:  the  way,  without  which  there  is  wandering; 
the  truth,  without  which  there  is  error;  the  life,  without  which  there  is 
death:  say,  Lord,  ‘Let  there  be  light,  and  we  shall  see  light/  .  .  .  We 
shall  see  the  way,  and  avoid  wandering;  we  shall  see  the  truth,  and  avoid 
error;  we  shall  see  life  and  escape  death.  .  .  .  Illuminate,  O  illuminate 
our  souls,  and  direct  our  feet  in  the  way  of  peace.”  Amen. — Augustine 
(354-403). 


320 


GRATITUDE  NOVEMBER  17 

W& 1  presence  and  l^lp  of  tje  Spirit 


Uenoe  for  t f\t  2Dap:  “  And  in  like  manner  the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our 
infirmity.” — Romans  8.  26. 

JLt$&on  for  tl)r  $Dap:  John  14.  15-17,  25,  26. 

15  If  ye  love  me,  ye  will  keep  my  commandments.  16  And  I 
will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you  another  Comforter, 
that  he  may  be  with  you  forever,  17  even  the  Spirit  of  truth:  whom 
the  world  cannot  receive;  for  it  beholdeth  him  not,  neither  know- 
eth  him:  ye  know  him;  for  he  abideth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in 
you.  25  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  while  yet  abiding 
with  you.  26  But  the  Comforter,  even  the  Holy  Spirit,  whom  the 
Father  will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and 
bring  to  your  remembrance  all  that  I  said  unto  you. 

“God  helps  us  in  our  prayers,  but  he  does  so  in  proportion  as  we  admit  his  aid  in  the 
rest  of  our  life.  We  cannot  pray  as  we  ought,  unless  we  live  as  we  ought.  Our  prayers 
will  partake  of  our  other  infirmities.  We  cannot  at  once  collect  ourselves  and  become 
other  men  in  the  Presence  of  God  from  what  we  were  just  before.” — Edward  B.  Pusey. 

“We  are  surrounded  by  mystery.  Mind  is  more  real  than  matter.  Our  souls 
and  God  are  real.  Of  the  reality  of  nothing  else  are  we  sure:  it  floats  before  us  a  fantastic 
shadow-world.  Mind  acts  on  mind.  The  Eternal  Spirit  blends  mind  with  mind, 
soul  with  soul,  and  is  moving  over  us  all  with  his  mystic  inspiration  every  hour.” — Fred¬ 
erick  W.  Robertson. 

Pta yn  fat  iff t  “  Our  Father,  we  know  not  how  to  pray  as  we 

ought,  but  it  is  written,  ‘The  Spirit  helpeth  our  infirmities.’  May  thy  Spirit 
be  our  very  present  help  this  day.  We  confess  our  sinfulness.  In  much  do 
we  offend  against  thee.  As  we  turn  from  our  sins  do  thou  have  mercy  upon 
us  and  grant  unto  us  thy  forgiveness.  Thy  good  Spirit  hath  not  been  with¬ 
held  from  us,  and  by  this  are  we  encouraged.  Suffer  us  not  to  be  content 
with  less  than  the  assurance  that  he  abideth  within  our  hearts.  May  we  not 
grieve  him  by  our  transgressions  nor  quench  him  by  our  neglect.  May  we 
enjoy  daily  communion  with  him.  May  our  minds  be  enlightened,  our  wills 
strengthened,  and  our  hearts  comforted  by  his  grace.  By  his  help  may  we 
be  qualified  for  our  duty  and  made  faithful  and  earnest  in  it.  In  our  family 
life  may  we  be  adorned  by  the  graces  of  the  Spirit.  In  all  that  we  do  may 
we  be  conscious  of  his  presence  and  aid.  May  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  abound 
in  all  our  lives,  even  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness, 
faith,  meekness,  temperance.  May  thy  gospel,  O  God,  be  everywhere  pro¬ 
claimed  and  may  that  kingdom  which  is  righteousness  and  peace  and  joy  in 
the  Holy  Ghost  come  throughout  all  the  earth.”  Amen. 


321 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  18 


'flTfje  Blessing  of  peace 

Pet#e  foe  tt)Z  “Blessed  are  the  peacemakers:  for  they  shall  be 

called  sons  of  God.” — Matthew  5.  9. 

2teg£on  foe  tf)e  2Dap:  Ezekiel  34.  25-28. 

25  And  I  will  make  with  them  a  covenant  of  peace,  and  will 
cause  evil  beasts  to  cease  out  of  the  land ;  and  they  shall  dwell 
securely  in  the  wilderness,  and  sleep  in  the  woods.  26  And  I  will 
make  them  and  the  places  round  about  my  hill  a  blessing;  and  I 
will  cause  the  shower  to  come  down  in  its  season;  there  shall  be 
showers  of  blessing.  27  And  the  tree  of  the  field  shall  yield  its 
fruit,  and  the  earth  shall  yield  its  increase,  and  they  shall  be  secure 
in  their  land;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  when  I  have 
broken  the  bars  of  their  yoke,  and  have  delivered  them  out  of  the 
hand  of  those  that  made  bondmen  of  them.  28  And  they  shall  no 
more  be  a  prey  to  the  nations,  neither  shall  the  beasts  of  the  earth 
devour  them;  but  they  shall  dwell  securely,  and  none  shall  make 
them  afraid. 


“Can  anyone  doubt  that  God  wills  we  should  cleanse  this  world  of  war?  What 
if  the  church  should  decide  to  trust  its  Lord  and  God  and,  with  a  little  of  the  martyr’s 
zeal,  dedicate  to  humanity  its  conscience  and  its  brain?  We  have  the  vision,  but  we 
let  cynics  stamp  upon  it  and  we  tremble  and  grow  faint  at  their  scoffings  and  their 
doubts.” — James  M.  Barrie. 


“Ah,  when  shall  all  men’s  good 
Be  each  man’s  rule?  And  universal  peace 
Lie  like  a  shaft  of  light  across  the  land, 

And  like  a  lane  of  beams  across  the  sea, 

Through  all  the  circle  of  the  golden  year.” 

'  — Alfred  Tennyson. 

“Far  is  the  time,  remote  from  human  sight, 

When  war  and  discord  on  the  earth  shall  cease; 

Yet  every  prayer  for  universal  peace 
Avails  the  blessed  time  to  expedite.” 

— Hartley  Coleridge. 


fot  t{)£  “Almighty  God,  Creator  and  Redeemer  of  all  man¬ 

kind,  who  has  set  thy  people  apart  into  many  nations,  we  beseech  thee  to 
magnify  in  the  hearts  of  all  men  the  thought  of  their  common  brotherhood 
in  thee;  and  so  to  order  the  patriotism  of  all  as  to  increase  the  love  of  each 
for  the  other.  .  .  .  Give  thy  grace  and  heavenly  benediction  to  all 

agencies  that  strive  after  peace  among  the  nations.  Hasten  the  day  when 
war  shall  be  no  more,  nor  the  widow  or  orphan  of  soldier  or  sailor  go  about 
the  streets,  and  the  labor  of  the  husbandman  be  set  at  naught.  Bring  speedily 
the  hour  when  men  everywhere  shall  sing  praises  to  thy  name,  giving  thanks 
that  the  Prince  of  Peace  hath  come  to  reign  forever  and  forever.  Hear 
us,  O  God,  in  the  name  and  for  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and 
Saviour,  to  whom  with  thee  and  the  Holy  Ghost  be  all  honor  and  glory,  both 
now  and  forever.”  Amen. — Robert  W.  Rogers  (b.  1864). 

322 


GRATITUDE  NOVEMBER  19 

<H\ je  l&entembtance  ot  Christ 


Uftgit  (Ot  tf)t  “But  far  be  it  from  me  to  glory,  save  in  the  cross 

of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  through  which  the  world  hath  been  crucified 
unto  me,  and  I  unto  the  world.” — Galatians  6.  14. 

llt000itt0rtf)t2Day:  John  17.  11,  12,  15-17,  25,  26. 

11  I  am  no  more  in  the  world,  and  these  are  in  the  world,  and 
I  come  to  thee.  Holy  Father,  keep  them  in  thy  name  which 
thou  hast  given  me,  that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are.  12  While 
I  was  with  them,  I  kept  them  in  thy  name  which  thou  hast  given 
me :  and  I  guarded  them,  and  not  one  of  them  perished,  but  the 
son  of  perdition;  that  the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled.  15  I  pray 
not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them  from  the  world,  but  that  thou 
shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil  one.  16  They  are  not  of  the 
world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world.  17  Sanctify  them  in  the  truth: 
thy  word  is  truth.  25  O  righteous  Father,  the  world  knew  thee  not, 
but  I  knew  thee;  and  these  knew  that  thou  didst  send  me;  26  and 
I  made  known  unto  them  thy  name,  and  will  make  it  known;  that 
the  love  wherewith  thou  lovedst  me  may  be  in  them,  and  I  in  them. 

“Find  us  a  better  answer  to  the  questionings  of  our  spirits  than  Christ  has  furnished! 
Show  us  a  better  ideal  of  manhood  than  he  has  given!  Bring  us  a  better  testimony  to 
the  life  beyond  the  grave  than  he  has  brought.  For  four  thousand  years  the  world 
tried  in  vain  to  return  to  God  and  now  that  he  has  come  himself  to  be  the  way,  we  will 
not  give  him  up  again  for  any  negation. ”• — William  Taylor. 

“And  now  we  ask,  Has  Jesus  been  outgrown?  In  these  eighteen  centuries  has  he 
been  left  behind,  in  any  one  particular,  by  the  advancing  race  of  man?  Is  he  not  still 
our  Leader,  Chief,  and  Friend — the  best  Friend  we  have — our  Brother,  Teacher,  and 
Master?  Without  him  and  his  religion,  what  satisfaction  is  there  in  life,  what  hope  in 
death,  what  comfort  in  sorrow,  what  strength  in  our  weakness,  what  light  in  our  dark¬ 
ness?” — James  Freeman  Clarke. 

Ptaptt  (or  2Dag:  “Our  heavenly  Father,  we  would  ever  bear  Christ 
in  our  remembrance — the  gracious  beauty  of  his  life,  his  obedience  unto 
death,  the  love  of  his  cross,  and  his  victory  over  the  world’s  sin  and  sorrow. 
We  would  remember  that  we  owe  to  him  our  greater  nearness  to  thee  and 
to  one  another,  our  knowledge  of  thy  Fatherhood,  our  human  brotherhood; 
our  new  and  more  abounding  life,  our  deeper  and  more  peaceful  sense  of 
immortality.  Impress  and  quicken  our  hearts  with  the  memory  of  our 
Master  and  Saviour  till  we  learn  to  feel  it  to  be  no  task  to  serve  him,  no 
hardship  to  follow  him  in  his  obedience,  and  no  burden  to  carry  his  cross. 
We  confess  with  shame  that  we  often  forget  our  Lord.  We  forget  him  in 
our  fear  and  anxiety,  in  our  distrust  and  doubt  of  thee,  our  heavenly  Father. 
We  forget  him  in  our  indolence  and  weariness  in  thy  service,  in  our  unfor¬ 
givingness  and  uncharitableness  of  disposition,  in  our  selfishness  and  worldli¬ 
ness.  Forgive,  O  God,  our  forgetfulness.  Help  us  by  thy  grace  that  we 
may  better  remember  Christ.  In  his  name.”  Amen. — John  Hunter 
(b.  1849). 


323 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  20 


SDdtbetance  ^StottgS  SDitunt  l£dp 

UtE£>£  (Dt  tjt  “So  Daniel  was  taken  up  out  of  the  den,  and  no 

manner  of  hurt  was  found  upon  him,  because  he  had  trusted  in  his  God.” 
— Daniel  6.  23b. 

tot  tl)e  SDap;  Psalm  124. 

1  If  it  had  not  been  Jehovah  who  was  on  our  side, 

Let  Israel  now  say, 

2  If  it  had  not  been  Jehovah  who  was  on  our  side, 

When  men  rose  up  against  us; 

3  Then  they  had  swallowed  us  up  alive, 

When  their  wrath  was  kindled  against  us: 

4  Then  the  waters  had  overwhelmed  us, 

The  stream  had  gone  over  our  soul; 

5  Then  the  proud  waters  had  gone  over  our  soul. 

6  Blessed  be  Jehovah, 

Who  hath  not  given  us  as  a  prey  to  their  teeth. 

7  Our  soul  is  escaped  as  a  bird  out  of  the  snare  of  the  fowlers: 
The  snare  is  broken,  and  we  are  escaped. 

8  Our  help  is  in  the  name  of  Jehovah, 

Who  made  heaven  and  earth. 


“When  obstacles  and  trials  seem 
Like  prison  walls  to  be, 

I  do  the  little  I  can  do, 

And  leave  the  rest  to  thee.” 

— Frederick  W.  Faber. 

“In  time  of  trouble  go  not  out  of  yourself  to  seek  for  aid;  for  the  whole  benefit  of 
trial  consists  in  silence,  patience,  rest,  and  resignation.  In  this  condition  divine  strength 
is  found  for  the  hard  warfare,  because  God  himself  fights  for  the  soul.” — M.  de  Molinos. 

“As  the  dead  body  shall  be  raised  up  in  life,  so  also  the  defeated  soul  to  victory,  if 
only  it  has  been  fighting  on  the  Master’s  side,  has  made  no  covenant  with  death,  nor 
itself  bowed  its  forehead  for  the  seal.” — John  Ruskin. 

Ptaptt  (Ot  ff)t  SDftJL  “We  thank  thee,  O  God,  with  our  whole  hearts, 
and  bless  thy  name  forever  and  ever;  thou  hast  done  all  things  well.  We 
were  in  sorrow,  and  saw  no  light;  then  thou  hast  had  pity  on  us  that  we 
perished  not.  We  cried  to  thee  in  our  trouble,  and  thou  didst  hear 
our  voice;  our  cry  entered  into  thine  ears  and  thou  didst  comfort  us; 
thou  hast  stood  beside  us  in  faithfulness,  and  as  a  Father  hast  thou 
rescued  us.  O  Lord  and  God,  how  shall  we  thank  thee  for  all  the 
benefits  that  thou  daily  showerest  upon  us?  We  will  take  the  cup  of 
salvation  and  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.  His  praises  shall  always  be 
on  our  lips.  Help  us,  O  faithful  God,  to  keep  this  vow;  govern,  guide,  and 
lead  us,  that  we  may  daily  grow  in  gratitude  and  love  to  thee,  through  thy 
dear  Son,  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ;  who  with  thee  and  the  Holy 
Spirit  ever  liveth  and  reigneth,  one  God,  world  without  end.”  Amen. — 
B.  Albrecht  (1569-1636). 


324 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  21 


&n  flUncomplamma  Spirit 


(or  tfjt  2Dag:  “I  waited  patiently  for  Jehovah; 

And  he  inclined  unto  me,  and  heard  my  cry.” 

— Psalm  40.  1. 


JLt&&on  toe  tfje  $Dag:  1  Peter  2.  19-24. 


19  For  this  is  acceptable,  if  for  conscience  toward  God  a  man 
endureth  griefs,  suffering  wrongfully.  20  For  what  glory  is  it, 
if,  when  ye  sin,  and  are  buffeted  for  it,  ye  shall  take  it  patiently? 
but  if,  when  ye  do  well,  and  suffer  for  it,  ye  shall  take  it  patiently, 
this  is  acceptable  with  God.  21  For  hereunto  were  ye  called:  be¬ 
cause  Christ  also  suffered  for  you,  leaving  you  an  example,  that 
ye  should  follow  his  steps:  22  who  did  no  sin,  neither  was  guile 
found  in  his  mouth:  23  who,  when  he  was  reviled,  reviled  not 
again;  when  he  suffered,  threatened  not;  but  committed  himself  to 
him  that  judgeth  righteously:  24  who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins 
in  his  body  upon  the  tree,  that  we,  having  died  unto  sins,  might 
live  unto  righteousness;  by  whose  stripes  ye  were  healed. 


“I  think  we  are  too  ready  with  complaint 

In  this  fair  world  of  God’s.  Had  we  no  hope 
Indeed  beyond  the  zenith  and  the  slope 
Of  yon  gray  blank  of  sky,  we  might  be  faint 
To  muse  upon  Eternity’s  constraint 

Round  our  aspirant  souls.  But  since  the  scope 
Must  widen  early,  is  it  well  to  droop, 

For  a  few  days  consumed  in  loss  and  taint? 

0  pusillanimous  heart,  be  comforted — 

And,  like  a  cheerful  traveler,  take  the  road, 

Singing,  beside  the  hedge.  What  if  the  bread 
Be  bitter  in  thine  inn,  and  thou  unshod 
To  meet  the  flints?  At  least  it  may  be  said, 

Because  the  way  is  short,  I  thank  thee,  God!” 

— Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning. 


(Ot  tj)£  £Da#t  O  heavenly  Father,  look  down  in  mercy  upon  all 
the  members  of  this  family.  Keep  us  from  all  harm.  Make  us  obedient,  and 
humble,  and  pure,  and  truthful.  Give  us,  we  pray  thee,  each  an  open  hand 
and  a  generous  heart.  Keep  our  ears  from  hearing  scandal,  and  our  tongues 
from  bearing  tales.  Cause  us  to  delight  in  the  prosperity  of  our  fellow 
men,  and  in  their  adversity  to  succor  them  cheerfully.  For  ourselves  we  ask 
neither  poverty  nor  riches,  but  that  thou  wouldst  choose  our  inheritance  for 
us,  and  teach  us  to  meet  all  changes  of  fortune  with  a  placid  mind.  Make 
us,  if  necessary,  willing  to  resign  with  submission  what  we  have  enjoyed 
with  temperance.  Help  us,  whatsoever  our  lot,  to  be  patient  and  uncom¬ 
plaining.  Put  far  from  every  one  of  us  the  spirit  of  fretting  and  finding 
fault.  If  it  be  thy  will,  spare  us  to  one  another’s  love,  we  humbly  pray  thee. 
Let  life  and  health  be  prolonged ;  but  if  thy  wisdom  see  good  to  afflict  us,  hold 
us  back  from  murmuring,  and  instruct  us  how  to  say,  “Thy  will  be  done!” 
These,  and  all  other  needful  mercies,  we  beg  for  the  sake  of  thine  only  be¬ 
gotten  Son  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 

325 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  22 


IRrassonsJ  fot  ptatemu  (Bob 

Uettfe  for  tl)e  2Dag:  “  Oh  praise  Jehovah,  all  ye  nations; 

Laud  him,  all  ye  peoples. 

For  his  loving-kindness  is  great  toward  us; 

And  the  truth  of  Jehovah  endureth  forever.” 

— Psalm  1 1 7.  1,  2a. 

JLt&gon  tort&eSDap:  Psalm  33.  1-8. 

1  Rejoice  in  Jehovah,  O  ye  righteous: 

Praise  is  comely  for  the  upright. 

2  Give  thanks  unto  Jehovah  with  the  harp: 

Sing  praises  unto  him  with  the  psaltery  of  ten  strings. 

3  Sing  unto  him  a  new  song; 

Play  skillfully  with  a  loud  noise. 

4  For  the  word  of  Jehovah  is  right; 

And  all  his  work  is  done  in  faithfulness. 

5  He  loveth  righteousness  and  justice: 

The  earth  is  full  of  the  loving-kindness  of  Jehovah. 

6  By  the  word  of  Jehovah  were  the  heavens  made, 

And  all  the  host  of  them  by  the  breath  of  his  mouth. 

7  He  gathereth  the  waters  of  the  sea  together  as  a  heap: 

He  layeth  up  the  deeps  in  storehouses. 

8  Let  all  the  earth  fear  Jehovah: 

Let  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  world  stand  in  awe  of  him. 

“My  God,  how  endless  is  thy  love? 

Thy  gifts  are  every  evening  new; 

And  morning  mercies  from  above 
Gently  distil  the  early  dew. 

“Thou  spread’st  the  curtains  of  the  night, 

Great  Guardian  of  my  sleeping  hours; 

Thy  sovereign  word  restores  the  light, 

And  quickens  all  my  drowsy  powers. 

“I  yield  my  powers  to  thy  command, 

To  thee  I  consecrate  my  days; 

Perpetual  blessings  from  thine  hand 

Demand  perpetual  songs  of  praise.”  — Isaac  Watts. 

y&t&IPtZ  C0t  tf)£  “Almighty  God,  we  thank  thee  that  thou  art  our 

Father,  and  that  thou  lovest  us  as  though  thou  hadst  no  other  children;  we 
adore  thee  for  the  beautiful  world  in  which  thou  hast  placed  us;  for  trees 
and  birds  and  flowers  and  sky;  for  friends  and  music  and  books  and  all 
the  ten  thousand  mercies  which  crown  our  lives.  We  thank  thee  too  for 
hard  tasks  and  severe  disciplines,  for  everything  that  is  intended  to  make  us 
strong  and  brave  and  true.  Thou  art  the  Lord  of  the  day  and  of  the  night 
also.  Give  us  grace  to  trust  thee  and  to  believe  in  thy  motherly  solicitude  at 
all  times.  May  thy  goodness  lead  us  to  repentance  and  to  joyous,  unselfish 
living,  and  may  we  so  improve  our  opportunities  for  service  that  we  shall 
make  others  think  of  Him  who  went  about  doing  good  and  trusted  in  his 
Father  with  a  perfect  trust.”  Amen. — Dillon  Bronson  (b.  1863). 

326 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  23 

?li)t  C5iU0  o(  (Bob 


(Ot  tjt  ‘‘Every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is  from 

above,  coming  down  from  the  Father  of  lights.” — James  1.  17. 

3Lt$$on  (ot  tjjtSDap;  Psalm  65.  I,  2,  9-13. 

1  Praise  waiteth  for  thee,  O  God,  in  Zion; 

And  unto  thee  shall  the  vow  be  performed. 

2  O  thou  that  hearest  prayer, 

Unto  thee  shall  all  flesh  come. 

9  Thou  visitest  the  earth,  and  waterest  it, 

Thou  greatly  enrichest  it; 

The  river  of  God  is  full  of  water: 

Thou  providest  them  grain,  when  thou  hast  so  prepared  the 
earth. 

10  Thou  waterest  its  furrows  abundantly; 

Thou  settlest  the  ridges  thereof : 

Thou  makest  it  soft  with  showers; 

Thou  blessest  the  springing  thereof. 

11  Thou  crownest  the  year  with  thy  goodness; 

And  thy  paths  drop  fatness. 

12  They  drop  upon  the  pastures  of  the  wilderness; 

And  the  hills  are  girded  with  joy. 

13  The  pastures  are  clothed  with  flocks; 

The  valleys  also  are  covered  over  with  grain; 

They  shout  for  joy,  they  also  sing. 


“When  thou  hast  thanked  thy  God  for  every  blessing  sent, 

What  time  will  then  remain  for  murmurs  or  lament?” 

— Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 


“Still  in  our  nights  of  deep  distress 
The  manna  falls  our  hearts  to  bless. 

And  famished,  as  we  cry  for  bread, 

With  heavenly  food  our  lives  are  fed. 

And  each  day’s  need  finds  each  day’s  store 
Enough.  Dear  Lord,  what  want  we  more?” 

— Margaret  E.  Sangster. 


Pt aytt  (ot  tfje  2Dap:  ‘  ‘What  have  we,  O  heavenly  Father,  that  we  have 
not  received  ?  Every  good  gift,  and  every  perfect  gift,  is  from  above,  and 
cometh  down  from  thee,  which  art  the  Father  of  lights.  Seeing,  then,  all 
that  we  have  is  thine,  whether  it  pertain  to  the  body  or  the  soul,  how  can 
we  be  proud,  and  boast  ourselves  of  that  which  is  none  of  our  own;  seeing 
also  that  as  to  give,  so  also  to  take  away  again,  thou  art  able  and  wilt, 
whensoever  thy  gifts  be  abused,  and  thou  not  acknowledged  to  be  the  giver  of 
them?  Take,  therefore,  away  from  us  all  pride  and  haughtiness  of  mind, 
graft  in  us  true  humility,  that  we  may  acknowledge  thee,  the  giver  of  all 
good  things,  be  thankful  unto  thee  for  them,  and  use  them  to  thy  glory  and 
the  profit  of  our  neighbors.  .  .  .  To  thee  alone  be  all  the  glory.”  Amen. 

Liturgies  of  King  Edward  VI. 


327 


GRATITUDE  NOVEMBER  24 

£>pmt  ot  ulnej^jst 

$££#£  fDt  tf)£  SDftJU  “I  will  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah  with  my  whole 
heart.” — Psalm  111.  ib. 

2^ejs»js»on  for  t|)e  2Da^:  Psalm  107.  1,  2,  21,  22,  32,  42,  43. 

1  Oh  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah:  for  he  is  good; 

For  his  loving-kindness  endureth  forever. 

2  Let  the  redeemed  of  Jehovah  say  so, 

Whom  he  hath  redeemed  from  the  hand  of  the  adversary. 

21  Oh  that  men  would  praise  Jehovah  for  his  loving-kindness, 
And  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men! 

22  And  let  them  offer  the  sacrifices  of  thanksgiving, 

And  declare  his  works  with  singing. 

32  Let  them  exalt  him  also,  in  the  assembly  of  the  people, 
And  praise  him  in  the  seat  of  the  elders. 

42  The  upright  shall  see  it,  and  be  glad; 

And  all  iniquity  shall  stop  her  mouth. 

43  Whoso  is  wise  will  give  heed  to  these  things; 

And  they  will  consider  the  loving-kindnesses  of  Jehovah. 

“0  Lord,  that  lends  me  life, 

Lend  me  a  heart  replete  with  thankfulness.” 

— William  Shakespeare. 

“Thou  that  hast  given  so  much  to  me, 

Give  one  thing  more,  a  grateful  heart. 

Not  thankful  when  it  pleaseth  me, 

As  if  thy  blessings  had  spare  days; 

But  such  a  heart,  whose  pulse  may  be 

Thy  praise.”  — Herbert. 


“I’m  thankful  for  the  summer,  with  its  blossoms  and  its  bees, 

I’m  thankful  for  the  winter,  with  its  bluster  and  its  freeze; 

I’m  such  a  thankful  feller  that  I  couldn’t,  if  I’d  try, 

Say  whether  I’m  more  thankful  for  December  or  July. 

Of  course  there’s  disappointments,  an’  there’s  trouble,  more  or  less, 

But  I’m  so  brimmin’  over  with  the  sweets  of  happiness, 

I  don’t  have  time  to  worry  o’er  the  bitter  things,  you  see, 

For  the  Lord  jes’  keeps  me  busy  bein’  thankful’s  I  can  be.” 

— Roy  Farrell  Greene. 


fOt  “O  most  mighty  and  gracious  God,  thy  mercy  is 

over  all  thy  works,  and  hath  in  an  especial  manner  been  extended  toward  us. 
We  beseech  thee,  make  us  truly  sensible  of  all  thy  mercy;  and  give  us  hearts 
always  ready  to  express  our  thankfulness ,  not  only  by  words,  but  also  by 
our  lives,  in  being  more  obedient  to  thy  holy  commandments.  Continue, 
we  beseech  thee,  thy  goodness  toward  us;  that  we,  whom  thou  daily  crownest 
with  thy  loving-kindness,  may  serve  thee  in  holiness,  and  righteousness  all 
the  days  of  our  lives;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. 
— Edward  Meyrick  Goulburn  (1818— 1897)* 


328 


GRATITUDE  NOVEMBER  25 

^SankfulnEgg  to  1  tl>t  25lE00mg0  ot  JLitt 


UEE0E  tot  t Jt  “What  shall  I  render  unto  Jehovah 

For  all  his  benefits  toward  me? 

I  will  offer  to  thee  the  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving, 
And  will  call  upon  the  name  of  Jehovah.” 

— Psalm  ii 6.  12,  17. 

Eeggon  tottjjeSDap:  Psalm  103.  1-5. 

* 

1  Bless  Jehovah,  O  my  soul; 

And  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name. 

2  Bless  Jehovah,  O  my  soul, 

And  forget  not  all  his  benefits: 

3  Who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities; 

Who  healeth  all  thy  diseases; 

4  Who  redeemeth  thy  life  from  destruction; 

Who  crowneth  thee  with  loving-kindness  and  tender  mercies; 

5  Who  satisfieth  thy  desire  with  good  things, 

So  that  thy  youth  is  renewed  like  the  eagle. 

“A  grateful  heart,  filled  with  thanksgiving,  is  a  nobler  thing  than  all  mere  outward 
worship.” — S'.  W.  Partridge. 

“My  God,  I  thank  thee,  who  hast  made 
The  earth  so  bright; 

So  full  of  splendor  and  of  joy, 

Beauty  and  light; 

So  many  glorious  things  are  here, 

Noble  and  right! 

“I  thank  thee  too  that  thou  hast  made 
Joy  to  abound; 

So  many  gentle  thoughts  and  deeds 
Circling  us  round, 

That  in  the  darkest  spot  of  earth 
Some  love  is  found. 

“I  thank  thee,  Lord,  that  here  our  souls, 

Though  amply  blest, 

Can  never  find,  although  they  seek, 

A  perfect  rest; 

Nor  ever  shall,  until  they  lean 
On  Jesus’  breast!” 

— Adelaide  A.  Procter. 

PEft^EE  COE  tl )t  “O  Lord  God,  Fountain  of  comfort  and  help,  of 

life  and  peace,  of  plenty  and  pardon,  who  fillest  heaven  with  thy  glory  and 
earth  with  thy  goodness;  we  give  thee  the  most  humble  and  earnest  returns 
of  glad  and  thankful  hearts  for  the  blessings  of  nature  and  the  blessings  of 
grace,  for  the  support  of  every  minute  and  the  gifts  of  every  day.  What 
are  we,  O  Lord,  and  what  is  our  father’s  house  that  the  great  God  of  men 
and  angels  should  multiply  upon  us  the  proofs  of  his  loving-kindness? 
Praised  be  the  Lord,  even  the  Lord  that  helpeth  us  and  poureth  his  blessings 
upon  us.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  his  Majesty  forever,  and  let  all  the  earth 
be  filled  with  his  glory.”  Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805-1900). 

329 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  26 


'ESanfttfgtlunQ;  Cot  &II  ot  dSoti'si  C3tftgi 

UEE£iE  fOE  tf)t  “In  everything  give  thanks.” — 1  Thessalonians 

5.  1 8a. 

2tE£g»0n  tOEtljeSDa#:  Psalm  138.  1-6. 

1  I  will  give  thee  thanks  with  my  whole  heart: 

Before  the  gods  will  I  sing  praises  unto  thee. 

2  I  will  worship  toward  thy  holy  temple, 

And  give  thanks  unto  thy  name  for  thy  loving-kindness  and 
for  thy  truth: 

For  thou  hast  magnified  thy  word  above  all  thy  name. 

3  In  the  day  that  I  called  thou  answeredest  me, 

Thou  didst  encourage  me  with  strength  in  my  soul. 

4  All  the  kings  of  the  earth  shall  give  thee  thanks,  O  Jehovah, 
For  they  have  heard  the  words  of  thy  mouth. 

5  Yea,  they  shall  sing  of  the  ways  of  Jehovah; 

For  great  is  the  glory  of  Jehovah. 

6  For  though  Jehovah  is  high,  yet  hath  he  respect  unto  the 

lowly ; 

But  the  haughty  he  knoweth  from  afar. 


“Cultivate  the  thankful  spirit.  It  will  be  to  thee  a  perpetual  feast.  There  is,  or 
ought  to  be,  with  us  no  such  things  as  small  mercies;  all  are  great,  because  the  least 
are  undeserved.  Indeed,  a  really  thankful  heart  will  extract  motive  for  gratitude  from 
everything,  making  the  most  even  of  scanty  blessings.” — J.  R.  MacDuff. 


“Bless  God  for  starlight  and  he  will  give  you  moonlight;  praise  him  for  moon¬ 
light  and  he  will  give  you  sunlight;  thank  him  for  sunlight  and  you  shall  yet  come  to 
the  land  where  they  need  not  the  light  of  the  sun,  for  the  Lord  God  giveth  them  light 
forever  and  ever.” — C.  H.  Spurgeon. 

“Some  murmur  if  their  sky  is  clear. 

And  wholly  bright  to  view, 

If  one  small  speck  of  dark  appear 
In  their  great  heaven  of  blue: 

And  some  with  thankful  love  are  filled, 

If  but  one  streak  of  light, 

One  ray  of  God’s  good  mercy,  gild 
The  darkness  of  their  night.” 

— Richard  Chenevix  Trench. 


COE  tf)E  “O  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father,  we  thank  thee  for 

all  of  thy  gifts  so  freely  bestowed  upon  us.  For  life  and  health,  for  our 
home  and  friends,  for  peace  and  safety,  for  power  to  work  and  leisure  to 
rest:  for  all  that  enriches  thought  or  ennobles  character;  for  all  that  is 
beautiful  in  creation,  or  in  art,  or  in  the  lives  of  men  we  praise  and  magnify 
thy  holy  name.  But  above  all  we  thank  thee  for  all  our  spiritual  mercies 
in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord;  for  the  gift  of  thy  Holy  Spirit;  for  the  means  of 
grace,  and  for  the  hope  of  glory.  Fill  our  hearts  with  all  joy  and  peace 
in  believing;  and  help  us  to  show  forth  thy  praise,  not  only  with  our  lips 
but  in  our  lives,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — A.  F.  Thornhill. 

330 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  27 

^fjanftfulttfgg  tot  Il)ome 


Uettfe  for  t&c  SDap:  ‘  ‘At  that  time,  saith  Jehovah,  will  I  be  the  God  of 
all  the  families  of  Israel,  and  they  shall  be  my  people.” — Jeremiah  31.  1. 

JLt$$on  tot  tfjt  SDap:  Deuteronomy  4.  9,  10;  Ephesians  6.  1-4. 

9  Only  take  heed  to  thyself,  and  keep  thy  soul  diligently,  lest 
thou  forget  the  things  which  thine  eyes  saw,  and  lest  they  depart 
from  thy  heart  all  the  days  of  thy  life;  but  make  them  known  unto 
thy  children  and  thy  children’s  children ;  10  the  day  that  thou 
stoodest  before  Jehovah  thy  God  in  Horeb,  when  Jehovah  said 
unto  me,  Assemble  me  the  people,  and  I  will  make  them  hear  my 
words,  that  they  may  learn  to  fear  me  all  the  days  that  they  live 
upon  the  earth,  and  that  they  may  teach  their  children. 

6.  1  Children,  obey  your  parents  in  the  Lord:  for  this  is  right. 
2  Honor  thy  father  and  mother  (which  is  the  first  commandment 
with  promise),  3  that  it  may  be  well  with  thee,  and  thou  mayest 
live  long  on  the  earth.  4  And,  ye  fathers,  provoke  not  your  children 
to  wrath:  but  nurture  them  in  the  chastening  and  admonition  of 
the  Lord. 


“Think  how  much  we  have  to  be  thankful  for.  Few  appreciate  the  number  of 
everyday  blessings;  we  look  on  them  as  trifles,  we  forget  them  because  they  are  always 
with  us.” — Lord  Avebury. 

“Stay,  stay  at  home,  my  heart,  and  rest; 

Home-keeping  hearts  are  happiest, 

For  those  who  wander  they  know  not  where, 

Are  full  of  trouble  and  full  of  care; 

To  stay  at  home  is  best. 

“Weary  and  homesick  and  distressed, 

They  wander  east  and  wander  west, 

And  are  baffled  and  beaten  and  blown  about 
By  the  winds  of  the  wilderness  of  doubt; 

To  stay  at  home  is  best.” 

— Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow. 


l  fot  tf )t  SDa#:  We  praise  and  bless  thee,  O  God,  for  thy  love  and 
for  thy  goodness  to  us  as  a  family.  We  thank  thee  for  life,  health,  and 
strength ;  for  home,  love,  and  friendship ;  for  the  discipline  of  our  trials  and 
temptations,  for  the  happiness  that  has  come  to  us  out  of  our  labors.  May 
thy  fatherly  benediction  rest  upon  us,  and  thy  grace  be  given  unto  us  that 
we  may  live  before  thee  in  peace,  in  righteousness,  and  in  true  holiness. 
May  we  love  one  another  with  a  pure  love  fervently.  May  we  bear  one 
another’s  burdens.  Put  far  from  each  one  of  us  the  spirit  of  envy  and 
jealousy  and  of  self-seeking.  In  honor  may  we  prefer  one  another.  May 
we  have  the  spirit  of  love  and  service  toward  our  neighbors  and  all  with 
whom  we  come  into  contact.  May  thy  love  be  shed  abroad  in  human  hearts 
until  all  the  people  of  the  world  shall  become  one  great  loving  family,  honor¬ 
ing  and  worshiping  thee  and  serving  one  another.  In  the  name  of  Christ 
our  Saviour.  Amen. 


331 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  28 


Eobe  tjjc  Supreme  <Bi(t 

Detgc  tar  tljc  2Dag:  “  Owe  no  man  anything,  save  to  love  one  another: 
for  he  that  loveth  his  neighbor  hath  fulfilled  the  law.” — Romans  13.  8. 

for  tficSoap:  1  Corinthians  13.  I — 13. 

i  If  I  speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  angels,  but  have 
not  love,  I  am  become  sounding  brass,  or  a  clanging  cymbal.  2  And 
if  I  have  the  gift  of  prophecy  and  know  all  mysteries  and  all 
knowledge;  and  if  I  have  all  faith,  so  as  to  remove  mountains,  but 
have  not  love,  I  am  nothing.  3  And  if  I  bestow  all  my  goods  to 
feed  the  poor,  and  if  I  give  my  body  to  be  burned,  but  have  not 
love,  it  profiteth  me  nothing.  4  Love  suffereth  long,  and  is  kind; 
love  envieth  not;  love  vaunteth  not  itself,  is  not  puffed  up,  5  doth 
not  behave  itself  unseemly,  seeketh  not  its  own,  is  not  provoked, 
taketh  not  account  of  evil;  6  Rejoiceth  not  in  unrighteousness, 
but  rejoiceth  with  the  truth;  7  Beareth  all  things,  believeth  all 
things,  hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all  things.  8  Love  never  faileth: 
but  whether  there  he  prophecies,  they  shall  be  done  away ;  whether 
there  be  tongues,  they  shall  cease ;  whether  there  he  knowledge,  it 
shall  be  done  away.  9  For  we  know  in  part,  and  we  prophesy  in 
part;  10  But  when  that  which  is  perfect  is  come,  that  which  is  in 
part  shall  be  done  away,  n  When  I  was  a  child,  I  spake  as  a  child, 
I  felt  as  a  child,  I  thought  as  a  child:  now  that  I  am  become  a  man, 
I  have  put  away  childish  things.  12  For  now  we  see  in  a  mirror, 
darkly;  but  then  face  to  face:  now  I  know  in  part;  but  then  shall 
I  know  fully  even  as  also  I  was  fully  known.  13  But  now  abideth 
faith,  hope,  love,  these  three;  and  the  greatest  of  these  is  love. 

“For  life  with  all  it  yields  of  joy  and  woe, 

And  hope  and  fear — believe  the  aged  friend — 

Is  just  our  chance  o’  the  prize  of  learning  love. 

How  love  might  be,  hath  been  indeed,  and  is; 

And  that  we  hold  henceforth  to  the  uttermost 
Such  price  despite  the  envy  of  the  world, 

And,  having  gained  truth,  keep  truth;  that  is  all.” 

— Robert  Browning. 

fflt  SDti#;  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  requirest  of  thy  dis¬ 
ciples  charity,  out  of  a  pure  heart,  and  faith  unfeigned,  give  unto  us,  we 
pray  thee,  thy  Christian  love,  and  perfect  charity,  that  we  may  love  thee, 
our  Lord  and  God,  with  all  our  hearts,  and  soul,  and  strength,  doing  always 
of  very  love  that  only  which  is  pleasing  in  thy  spirit.  Grant  that  we  may 
love  our  brethren  and  neighbors  as  ourselves,  and  may  be  ready  at  all  times 
to  do  for  them  whatsoever  lieth  in  our  power.  .  .  .  And  because  nothing 
pleaseth  thee  that  is  done  without  faith,  we  beseech  thee,  O  Father,  for  thy 
dear  soul’s  sake,  to  breathe  into  our  hearts  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  this  most 
precious  gift  of  faith  which  worketh  by  love;  whereby  .  .  .  we,  truly  believ¬ 
ing  in  thee,  .  .  .  may  be  made  thy  sons,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  who 
with  thee  and  the  Holy  Ghost  liveth  and  reigneth,  ever  one  God,  world 
without  end.”  Amen. — Primer  of  Edward  VI. 

332 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  29 

C!)c  iFatget^  Eobc  anti  ®$tzty 

UEE£E  Cot  Cjjt  SDa^J  “Yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love: 
therefore  with  loving-kindness  have  I  drawn  thee.” — Jeremiah  31.  3. 

Cot  tf)t2Da£;  Luke  15.  11-24. 

11  And  he  said,  A  certain  man  had  two  sons:  12  and  the  younger 
of  them  said  to  his  father,  Father,  give  me  the  portion  of  thy  sub¬ 
stance  that  falleth  to  me.  And  he  divided  unto  them  his  living. 
13  And  not  many  days  after,  the  younger  son  gathered  all  together 
and  took  his  journey  into  a  far  country;  and  there  he  wasted  his 
substance  with  riotous  living.  14  And  when  he  had  spent  all,  there 
arose  a  mighty  famine  in  that  country;  and  he  began  to  be  in  want. 
15  And  he  went  and  joined  himself  to  one  of  the  citizens  of  that 
country;  and  he  sent  him  into  his  fields  to  feed  swine.  16  And  he 
would  fain  have  filled  his  belly  with  the  husks  that  the  swine  did 
eat:  and  no  man  gave  unto  him.  17  But  when  he  came  to  himself 
he  said,  How  many  hired  servants  of  my  father’s  have  bread  enough 
and  to  spare,  and  I  perish  here  with  hunger!  18  I  will  arise  and  go 
to  my  father,  and  will  say  unto  him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven,  and  in  thy  sight:  19  I  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy 
son:  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants.  20  And  he  arose,  and 
came  to  his  father.  But  while  he  was  yet  afar  off,  his  father  saw 
him,  and  was  moved  with  compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his 
neck,  and  kissed  him.  21  And  the  son  said  unto  him,  Father,  I 
have  sinned  against  heaven,  and  in  thy  sight:  I  am  no  more  worthy 
to  be  called  thy  son.  22  But  the  father  said  to  his  servants,  Bring 
forth  quickly  the  best  robe,  and  put  it  on  him;  and  put  a  ring  on 
his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his  feet:  23  and  bring  the  fatted  calf,  and 
kill  it,  and  let  us  eat,  and  make  merry:  24  for  this  my  son  was  dead, 
and  is  alive  again;  he  was  lost,  and  is  found.  And  they  began  to 
be  merry. 

“We  have  searched  the  records  and  heard  all  witnesses  from  the  beginning  of  time; 
but  we  have  never  found  the  boundary  of  his  mercy.  And  there  is  no  country  known 
to  man  that  is  without  his  presence.  And  never  has  it  been  known  that  he  has  shut  his 
ear  to  those  who  called  upon  him,  or  forgotten  one  that  is  his.  The  heavenly  pleaders 
may  be  silenced,  but  never  our  Lord,  who  pleads  for  all;  and  heaven  and  earth  may 
forget,  yet  will  he  never  forget,  who  is  the  Father  of  all.  And  every  child  of  his  is  to 
him  as  if  there  was  none  other  in  the  world.” — The  Little  Pilgrim  in  the  Seen  and  Unseen. 

COE  tf)E  iSDtt#*  “O  Lord  our  God,  thy  greatness  is  unsearchable. 
.  .  .  Thou  art  hidden  in  excess  of  light;  and,  if  we  were  to  behold  thee  in 
the  great  sphere  in  which  thou  art  living,  none  of  us  would  dare  to  draw 
near  to  thee.  Our  imperfections,  our  transgressions,  our  secret  thoughts, 
our  wild  impulses,  are  such  that  we  should  be  ashamed  to  stand  before 
the  All-Searching  Eye.  Yet  .  .  .  thou  hast  taught  us  to  draw  near  to 
thee  in  person  through  the  familiar  way  of  Fatherhood.  From  our  child¬ 
hood  we  have  said,  Our  Father,  and  in  this  way  we  are  not  afraid;  in  this 
way  we  come  familiarly  and  boldly;  not  irreverently,  but  with  the  famili¬ 
arity  which  love  gives.  Thou  hast  poured  the  light  of  thy  love  upon  the 
path  which  we  tread,  and  thou  hast  taught  us  to  come  rejoicing  before 
thee.  .  .  .  Receive  us  today  as  thus  we  come,  O  our  Father.”  Amen. — 

Henry  Ward  Beecher  (1813-1887). 

333 


GRATITUDE 


NOVEMBER  30 

G$oV0  patience  Ml itt> 


l?ete»e  fot  tlje  SDa^t  .  .  But  thou  art  a  God  ready  to  pardon, 

gracious  and  merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  abundant  in  loving-kindness.” 
— Nehemiah  9.  17. 

fottf)e$Dap:  Psalm  103.  6-12. 

6  Jehovah  executeth  righteous  acts, 

And  judgments  for  all  that  are  oppressed. 

7  He  made  known  his  ways  unto  Moses, 

His  doings  unto  the  children  of  Israel. 

8  Jehovah  is  merciful  and  gracious, 

Slow  to  anger,  and  abundant  in  loving-kindness. 

9  He  will  not  always  chide; 

Neither  will  he  keep  his  anger  forever. 

10  He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our  sins, 

Nor  rewarded  us  after  our  iniquities. 

11  For  as  the  heavens  are  high  above  the  earth, 

So  great  is  his  loving-kindness  toward  them  that  fear  him. 

12  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west, 

So  far  hath  he  removed  our  transgressions  from  us. 


“God’s  love  assumes  many  forms  and  is  lovely  in  them  all.  He  is  ‘a  God  full  of 
compassion,  and  gracious,  long  suffering,  and  plenteous  in  mercy  and  truth.’  Into 
whatsoever  state  we  may  be  cast  there  is  a  peculiar  hue  in  the  light  of  love  which  meets 
our  need.” — C.  Ii.  Spurgeon . 

J‘Yet  we  must  give  the  children  leave  to  use 

Our  garden  tools,  though  they  spoil  tool  and  plant 
In  learning.  So  the  Master  may  not  scorn 
Our  awkwardness,  as  with  these  bungling  hands 
We  try  to  uproot  the  ill,  and  plant  with  good 
Life’s  barren  soil:  the  child  is  learning  use. 

Perhaps  the  angels  even  are  forbid 
To  laugh  at  us,  or  may  not  care  to  laugh, 

With  kind  eyes  pitying  our  little  hurts.” 

— Edward  Rowland  Sill. 


ptapet  for  tje  Soap;  O  God,  who  art,  and  wast,  and  art  to  come,  before 
whose  face  the  generations  rise  and  pass  away;  age  after  age  the  living  seek 
thee;  and  find  that  of  thy  faithfulness  there  is  no  end.  O  thou  God  of 
infinite  patience,  look  upon  us  with  pity  because  of  our  ignorance,  our  frail¬ 
ties,  our  recurring  sins.  Though  in  justice  thou  mightest  cut  us  off  in  anger 
we  plead  for  thy  mercy.  Suffer  us  yet  a  little  longer,  O  thou  patient  Master 
of  men’s  souls.  Send  forth  thy  light  and  thy  truth,  let  them  lead  us.  Grant 
unto  us  thy  Holy  Spirit,  that  in  thy  light  we  may  see  light,  that  in  thy  life 
our  souls  may  be  enlivened.  O  thou  sole  source  of  wisdom,  of  strength,  and 
of  righteousness,  in  thee  may  we  find  the  answer  to  our  every  need.  Not 
of  our  worthiness,  but  of  thy  patient  mercy  hear  our  prayer.  Amen. 


334 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  i 


CSttet  tfje  C3oots 

Uettft  for  t&e  2r>ap;  “.  .  .  the  great  shepherd  of  the  sheep.  .  .  . 
even  our  Lord  Jesus.” — Hebrews  13.  20. 

3Lc$$on  tortljcSDap:  John  io.  10-14. 

10  The  thief  cometh  not,  but  that  he  may  steal,  and  kill,  and 
destroy:  I  came  that  they  may  have  life,  and  may  have  it  abun¬ 
dantly.  11  I  am  the  good  shepherd:  the  good  shepherd  layeth 
down  his  life  for  the  sheep.  12  He  that  is  a  hireling,  and  not  a 
shepherd,  whose  own  the  sheep  are  not,  beholdeth  the  wolf  com¬ 
ing,  and  leaveth  the  sheep,  and  fleeth,  and  the  wolf  snatcheth  them, 
and  scattereth  them:  13  he  fleeth  because  he  is  a  hireling,  and  careth 
not  for  the  sheep.  14  I  am  the  good  shepherd;  and  I  know  mine 
own,  and  mine  own  know  me. 


“And  I  cannot  help  thinking,  Socrates,  that  the 
even  higher  than  that  oi  a  king.” 


form  of  the  Divine  Shepherd  is 

— Plato. 


“That  was  the  Shepherd  of  the  flock;  he  knew 
The  distant  voice  of  one  poor  sheep  astray; 
It  had  forsaken  him,  but  he  was  true, 

And  listened  for  its  bleating  night  and  day. 


“And  thou,  fallen  soul,  afraid  to  live  or  die 
In  the  deep  pit  that  will  not  set  thee  free, 

Lift  up  to  him  the  helpless  homeward  cry, 

For  all  that  tender  love  is  seeking  thee.”  t 

— Anna  L.  Waring. 

“Perverse  and  foolish  oft  I  strayed, 

But  yet  in  love  he  sought  me. 

And  on  his  shoulder  gently  laid, 

And  home  rejoicing  brought  me.” 

— Henry  W.  Baker. 

fOt  t £)iTJIR  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thou  great  Shepherd  of  the 
sheep,  grant  us  grace,  we  beseech  thee,  whenever  we  hear  thy  voice  instantly 
to  obey  it.  Feed  us  with  the  blessed  sacrament  of  thy  body  and  blood; 
comfort  us  with  thy  continual  presence.  Bring  into  thy  fold  those  other 
sheep  which  also  are  thine ;  that  we  all  may  be  one  flock  under  one  Shepherd : 
led  by  one  Spirit,  fed  by  one  Love,  exalted  to  one  glory.”  Amen. — Christina 
G.  Rossetti. 

“O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thou  Good  Shepherd  of  the  sheep ,  who  earnest 
to  seek  the  lost,  and  to  gather  them  to  thy  fold,  have  compassion  upon 
those  who  have  wandered  from  thee ;  feed  those  who  hunger,  cause  the 
weary  to  lie  down  in  thy  pastures,  bind  up  those  who  are  broken  in  heart, 
and  strengthen  those  who  are  weak,  that  we,  relying  on  thy  care  and 
being  comforted  by  thy  love,  may  abide  in  thy  guidance  to  our  lives’  end; 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — An  Ancient  Collect. 


335 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  2 


Bitting  a f  jfarrstbenctfjj 

Wet&c  fat  tf )c  2Dag:  If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  righteous 

to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness.” — 
1  John  1.  9. 

%C$$QIX  fat  tl)e  SDag:  Psalm  32.  I,  2,  5,  6. 

1  Blessed  is  he  whose  transgression  is  forgiven, 

Whose  sin  is  covered. 

2  Blessed  is  the  man  unto  whom  Jehovah  imputeth  not  in¬ 

iquity, 

And  in  whose  spirit  there  is  no  guile. 

5  I  acknowledged  my  sin  unto  thee, 

And  mine  iniquity  did  I  not  hide: 

I  said,  I  will  confess  my  transgressions  unto  Jehovah; 

And  thou  forgavest  the  iniquity  of  my  sin. 

6  For  this  let  every  one  that  is  godly  pray  unto  thee  in  a  time 

when  thou  mayest  be  found: 

Surely  when  the  great  waters  overflow  they  shall  not  reach 
unto  him. 

“Needing  so  much  forgiveness, — 

God  grant  me  at  least  to  forgive.”  — Lytton. 

“Tis  not  enough  to  weep  my  sins, 

Tis  but  one  step  to  heaven: — 

When  I  am  kind  to  others — then 

I  know  myself  forgiven.”  — Frederick  W.  Faber. 

“Forgiveness  is  not  forgiveness  when  it  is  turned  to  our  ease  and  comfort.  It  is  in 
its  nature  expansive,  diffusive;  it  cannot  be  cooped  up  in  the  heart  of  any  creature; 
it  must  go  forth  into  the  open  air,  or  it  dies.  God’s  forgiveness,  free,  large,  absolute 
as  it  is,  only  reaches  a  man’s  heart  when  it  subdues  his  unbrotherly  nature,  and  makes 
him  forgiving.  The  debts,  we  know  it  well,  cannot  loose  their  penal  hold  upon  the 
conscience,  their  present  and  future  terror,  till  love  comes  in  to  fulfill  them  and  transfer 
them;  till  a  man  learns  to  say:  ‘I  am  a  debtor  to  Jew  and  Gentile — to  bond  and  free.’  ” 
— F.  D.  Maurice. 

fat  tlje  kDtfJR  Our  heavenly  Father,  we  acknowledge  our  -  sin 
unto  thee;  our  iniquity  would  we  not  hide.  We  humbly  confess  our  need 
of  pardon.  Forgive  us  all  that  has  been  wrong  in  our  lives.  Forgive  our 
self-will,  anger,  and  pride;  our  waste  of  time,  our  too  great  love  of  ourselves 
and  our  too  little  love  of  others,  our  idle  thoughts  and  unkind  words.  These 
and  our  many  other  sins  and  shortcomings  are  hateful  unto  us.  We  turn 
away  from  them  unto  thee.  Grant  that  we  may  know  the  blessing  of  thy 
forgiveness.  For  Jesus  Christ’s  sake,  forgive  us  all  that  is  past,  and  grant 
that  we  may  ever  hereafter  serve  thee  in  newness  of  life.  Strengthen  us 
wherein  we  are  weak.  Give  unto  us  the  mind  of  Christ.  Renew  within  us 
holy  affections  and  desires.  Set  us  free  from  foolish  fashions  and  wrong 
customs.  Grant  us  patience  when  we  are  provoked,  courage  when  we  are 
ready  to  despair,  and  perseverance  unto  the  end.  We  ask  it  for  His  sake 
who  hath  loved  us  and  given  himself  for  us,  thy  Son,  our  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ.  Amen. 


336 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  3 

Communion  ot  &aint$ 


Wtz&t  tot  tfje  2Dap:  “  If  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we 
have  fellowship  one  with  another.” — 1  John  1.  7. 

fOt  tjt  2Dapt  Hebrezvs  12.  1;  2  Peter  3.  1,  2,  14. 

1  Therefore  let  us  also,  seeing  we  are  compassed  about  with 
so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses,  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin 
which  doth  so  easily  beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race 
that  is  set  before  us. 

3.  1  This  is  now,  beloved,  the  second  epistle  that  I  write  unto 
you;  and  in  both  of  them  I  stir  up  your  sincere  mind  by  putting 
you  in  remembrance ;  2  that  ye  should  remember  the  words  which 
were  spoken  before  by  the  holy  prophets,  and  the  commandment  of 
the  Lord  and  Saviour  through  your  apostles. 

14  Wherefore,  beloved,  seeing  that  ye  look  for  these  things, 
give  diligence  that  ye  may  be  found  in  peace,  without  spot  and 
blameless  in  his  sight. 

“O  King  of  saints,  we  give  thee  praise  and  glory 
For  the  bright  cloud  of  witnesses  unseen, 

Whose  names  shine  forth  like  stars,  in  sacred  story. 

Guiding  our  steps  to  realms  of  light  serene; 

“Thine  arm  sustained  them  all  in  conflict  mortal 
With  sin,  the  world,  and  all  the  powers  of  hell; 

Thy  hand  hath  oped  for  all  the  shining  portal 
To  realms  where  peace  and  joy  forever  dwell. 

“Though  in  thy  service,  we  too  oft  have  slumbered, 

Like  the  ten  Virgins,  foolish  ones  and  wise; 

Yet  with  thy  saints,  may  we  at  last  be  numbered, 

And  at  thy  call  with  burning  lamps  arise.”  — M.  A.  Thompson. 

“We  forfeit  the  chief  source  of  dignity  and  sweetness  in  life,  next  to  the  direct  com¬ 
munion  with  God,  if  we  do  not  seek  converse  with  the  greater  minds  that  have  left  their 
vestiges  on  the  world.  Rather  let  us  keep  a  constant  eye  upon  the  light  of  their  spirits, 
and  never  quit  our  hold  of  the  shadowy  hands,  of  which  the  nearest  is  almost  at  our 
door,  and  the  farthest  feels  the  touch  of  Christ  and  disappears  in  the  effulgence  of  God. 
This  blessed  dependence,  this  holding  on  from  link  to  link,  of  soul  to  soul,  of  age  to  age, 
is  the  true  ‘Communion  of  Saints.’  ” — James  Martineau. 

l&Z&ytZ  (0£  tf)£  2D  ft#  l  “Heavenly  Father,  we  bless  thee  that  thou  hast  set 
us  in  the  line  of  so  many  good  and  faithful  men.  We  remember  all  who 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world  have  wrought  righteousness  and  walked 
with  thee.  We  remember  prophets,  apostles  and  martyrs,  and  all  lowly 
people  whose  lives  have  been  beautiful  with  the  beauty  of  Christ.  Thine 
was  the  spirit  of  knowledge  in  their  minds,  and  thine  the  spirit  of  love  that 
dwelt  in  their  hearts.  We  rejoice  in  the  communion  of  the  saints ,  more 
especially  in  those  whom  we  ourselves  have  known  and  loved,  the  dear  and 
holy  dead  who  have  made  the  unseen  world  a  home  for  us.  Let  the  cloud 
of  witnesses  be  to  us  an  example  of  godly  life.  .  .  .  May  we  and  all  who 
take  Christ’s  name,  be  filled  with  his  Spirit  and  be  enabled  to  follow  him  in 
all  purity  and  obedience.  ...”  Amen. — John  Hunter  (b.  1849). 

337 


GRATITUDE  DECEMBER  4 

Hijt  ot  t fie  eternal  2U(e 


(Ot  t{)t  j&DajU  “Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have 
entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared  for 
them  that  love  him." — 1  Corinthians  2.  9  (King  James  version). 

Htsteon  for  tljtSDay:  Revelation  21.  1-7. 

1  And  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth:  for  the  first  heaven 
and  the  first  earth  are  passed  away;  and  the  sea  is  no  more.  2  And 
I  saw  the  holy  city,  new  Jerusalem,  coming  down  out  of  heaven  from 
God,  made  ready  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  husband.  3  And  I 
heard  a  great  voice  out  of  the  throne  saying,  Behold,  the  tabernacle 
of  God  is  with  men,  and  he  shall  dwell  with  them,  and  they  shall 
be  his  peoples,  and  God  himself  shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their 
God:  4  and  he  shall  wipe  away  every  tear  from  their  eyes;  and 
death  shall  be  no  more;  neither  shall  there  be  mourning,  nor  cry¬ 
ing,  nor  pain,  any  more:  the  first  things  are  passed  away.  5  And 
he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  said,  Behold,  I  make  all  things  new. 
And  he  saith,  Write:  for  these  words  are  faithful  and  true.  6  And 
he  said  unto  me,  They  are  come  to  pass.  I  am  the  Alpha  and  the 
Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end.  I  will  give  unto  him  that  is 
athirst  of  the  fountain  of  the  water  of  life  freely.  7  He  that  over- 
cometh  shall  inherit  these  things;  and  I  will  be  his  God,  and  he  shall 
be  my  son. 

• 

“The  things  which  are  above  are  so  great,  so  solid,  so  durable,  so  glorious,  that  we 
cannot  raise  our  thoughts  to  an  equal  height  with  them;  we  cannot  enlarge  our  desires 
beyond  a  possibility  of  satisfaction.  Our  hearts  are  greater  than  the  world;  but  God  is 
greater  than  our  hearts;  and  the  happiness  which  he  hath  laid  up  for  us,  is,  like  himself, 
incomprehensibly  great  and  glorious.  Let  the  thoughts  of  this  raise  us  above  the 
world,  and  inspire  us  with  greater  thoughts  and  designs,  than  the  care  and  concern¬ 
ments  of  this  present  life.” — John  Tillotson. 

(Ot  tl)t  “Almighty  God,  we  give  thee  warmest  thanksgiving 

that  thou  hast  assured  us  that  we  cannot  form  imaginations  more  glowing 
than  the  reality  of  the  eternal  life.  We  give  thee  thanks  for  visions  of  a 
fairer,  brighter,  and  richer  life,  a  more  blessed  world,  than  aught  we  have 
yet  seen.  .  .  .  We  feel  that  when  we  do  our  best  here,  our  best  is 

stained  with  imperfection,  and  our  cry  is  while  we  live,  Bestow  upon  us 
what  is  purer,  more  enduring  than  anything  earth  can  give  or  take  away. 
Forgive  any  who  thank  thee  that  they  are  not  what  other  men  are.  Forgive 
the  rich  if  by  a  foolish  misunderstanding  of  their  position  they  despise  the 
poor.  Forgive  any  of  us  whose  lot  is  cast  in  humble  places,  with  humble 
work  to  do  and  little  reward,  if  in  any  way  we  repine  against  God. 

Teach  us  that  there  is  no  work  into  which  nobleness  may  not  come,  no 
calling  that  has  not  room  in  it  for  grace,  no  place  too  full  for  God  to  come 
into,  no  work  too  mean  for  thy  Spirit  to  bless,  no  man  too  humble  to  be  God’s 
child,  no  child  too  low  to  be  God’s  friend.  Let  us  have  one  ambition,  and 
let  that  be  to  know  and  to  do  what  is  God’s  will,  not  only  sometimes,  but 
always.  .  .  .  Hear  these  our  prayers,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. 
— George  Dawson  (b.  1861). 


338 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  5 

Bitting  ot  %aboi 


$EE£>£  tot  tf)£  “The  labor  of  the  righteous  te?ideth  to  life.” — 

Proverbs  10.  16. 

HtjSrgOtt  tot  tf)t  £Dap:  Ecclesiastes  5.  12,  18,  19;  Proverbs  24.  30,  31. 

12  The  sleep  of  a  laboring  man  is  sweet,  whether  he  eat 
little  or  much;  but  the  fullness  of  the  rich  will  not  suffer  him  to 
sleep. 

18  Behold,  that  which  I  have  seen  to  be  good  and  to  be 
comely  is  for  one  to  eat  and  to  drink,  and  to  enjoy  good  in 
all  his  labor,  wherein  he  laboreth  under  the  sun,  all  the  days  of  his 
life  which  God  hath  given  him:  for  this  is  his  portion.  19  Every 
man  also  to  whom  God  hath  given  riches  and  wealth,  and  hath  given 
him  power  to  eat  thereof,  and  to  take  his  portion,  and  to  rejoice 
in  his  labor — this  is  the  gift  of  God. 

24.  30  I  went  by  the  field  of  the  sluggard, 

And  by  the  vineyard  of  the  man  void  of  understanding; 

31  And,  lo,  it  was  all  grown  over  with  thorns, 

The  face  thereof  was  covered  with  nettles, 

And  the  stone  wall  thereof  was  broken  down. 


“What  are  we  set  on  earth  for?  Say,  to  toil; 

Nor  seek  to  leave  thy  tending  of  the  vines 
For  all  the  heat  o’  the  day,  till  it  declines, 

And  Death’s  mild  curfew  shall  from  work  assoil. 

God  did  anoint  thee  with  his  odorous  oil 
To  wrestle,  not  to  reign;  and  he  assigns 
All  thy  tears  over,  like  pure  crystallines, 

For  younger  fellow  workers  of  the  soil 
To  wear  for  amulets.  So  others  shall 
Take  patience,  labor,  to  their  heart  and  hand, 

From  thy  hand  and  thy  heart  and  thy  brave  cheer. 

And  God’s  grace  fructify  through  thee  to  all. 

The  least  flower  with  a  brimming  cup  may  stand, 

And  share  its  dew-drop  with  another  near.” 

— Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning. 

“Work!  Thank  God  for  the  might  of  it, 

The  ardor,  the  urge,  the  delight  of  it — 

Work  that  springs  from  the  heart’s  desire, 

Setting  the  brain  and  the  soul  on  fire — 

“Oh  what  is  so  good  as  the  heat  of  it, 

And  what  is  so  glad  as  the  beat  of  it, 

And  what  is  so  kind  as  the  stern  command, 

Challenging  brain  and  heart  and  hand!”  — Angela  Morgan. 

PtilgtE  (Ot  “O  Lord,  renew  our  spirits  and  draw  our  hearts 

unto  thyself  that  our  work  may  not  be  to  us  a  burden,  but  a  delight ;  and 
give  us  such  mighty  love  to  thee  as  may  sweeten  all  our  obedience.  Oh,  let 
us  not  serve  thee  with  the  spirit  of  bondage  as  slaves,  but  with  the  cheerful¬ 
ness  and  gladness  of  children,  delighting  ourselves  in  thee  and  rejoicing  in 
thy  work.”  Amen. — Benjamin  J enks  (1646—1724). 

339 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  6 


of  an  &pjpomteti  CHlorK 

fot  tj)t  SDa^t  “Whereunto  I  was  appointed  a  preacher  and  an 
apostle.  .  .  a  teacher  of  the  Gentiles  in  faith  and  truth.” — i  Timothy 

2.  7. 

fot  tiitSDap:  2  Timothy  1.  8 — 1 1 . 

8  Be  not  ashamed  therefore  of  the  testimony  of  our  Lord,  nor 
of  me  his  prisoner:  but  suffer  hardship  with  the  gospel  according 
to  the  power  of  God;  9  who  saved  us,  and  called  us  with  a  holy 
calling,  not  according  to  our  works,  but  according  to  his  own  pur¬ 
pose  and  grace,  which  was  given  us  in  Christ  Jesus  before  time 
eternal,  10  but  hath  now  been  manifested  by  the  appearing  of  our 
Saviour  Christ  Jesus,  who  abolished  death,  and  brought  life  and 
immortality  to  light  through  the  gospel,  n  whereunto  I  was  ap¬ 
pointed  a  preacher,  and  an  apostle,  and  a  teacher. 


“The  surest  method  of  arriving  at  a  knowledge  of  God’s  eternal  purposes  about 
us  is  to  be  found  in  the  right  use  of  the  present  moment.  God’s  will  does  not  come 
to  us  in  the  whole,  but  in  fragments,  and  generally  in  small  fragments.  It  is  our  busi¬ 
ness  to  piece  it  together,  and  to  live  it  into  one  orderly  vocation.” — Frederick  W.  Faber. 


“No  one  of  my  fellows  can  do  that  special  work  for  me  which  I  have  come  into  the 
world  to  do;  he  may  do  a  higher  work,  a  greater  work,  but  he  cannot  do  my  work.  I 
cannot  hand  my  work  over  to  him  any  more  than  I  can  hand  over  my  responsibilities 
or  my  gifts.  Nor  can  I  delegate  my  work  to  any  association  of  men,  however  well- 
ordered  and  powerful.  They  have  their  own  work  to  do,  and  it  may  be  a  very  noble 
one.  But  they  cannot  do  my  work  for  me.  I  must  do  it  with  these  hands  or  with 
th  ese  lips  which  God  has  given  me.  I  may  do  little  or  I  may  do  much.  That  matters 
not.  It  must  be  my  own  work.  And  by  doing  my  own  work,  poor  as  it  may  seem  to 
some,  I  shall  better  fulfill  God’s  end  in  making  me  what  I  am,  and  more  truly  glorify 
his  name,  than  if  I  were  either  going  out  of  my  own  sphere  to  do  the  work  of  another 
or  calling  in  another  into  my  sphere  to  do  my  proper  wTork  for  me.” — John  Ruskin. 


fot  tf\Z  SDag:  “O  Almighty  God  and  heavenly  Father,  who  by 
thy  divine  providence  hast  appointed  for  each  one  of  us  our  work  in  life, 
and  hast  commanded  that  we  should  not  be  slothful  in  business,  but  fervent 
in  spirit,  serving  thee,  help  us  always  to  remember  that  our  work  is  thy 
appointment,  and  to  do  it  heartily  as  unto  thee.  Preserve  us  from  sloth¬ 
fulness,  and  make  us  to  live  with  loins  girded  and  lamps  burning,  that 
whensoever  our  Lord  mav  come,  we  may  be  found  striving  earnestly  to  finish 
the  work  that  thou  hast  given  us  to  do;  through  the  same  Jesus  Christ  our 
Saviour.”  Amen. — Dean  Goulburn  (1818-1897). 


340 


GRATITUDE  DECEMBER  7 

4 

W&z  d&oLk  ot  1 Sl^tmgtrp 

f0t  tf)t  “Take  heed  to  the  ministry  which  thou  hast  received 

in  the  Lord,  that  thou  fulfill  it.” — Colossians  4.  17. 

2U££on  for  tljeSDap:  2  Timothy  4.  1-5. 

1  I  charge  thee  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  of  Christ  Jesus,  who 
shall  judge  the  living  and  the  dead,  and  by  his  appearing  and  his 
kingdom:  2  preach  the  word;  be  urgent  in  season,  out  of  season; 
reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long-suffering  and  teaching.  3  For 
the  time  will  come  when  they  will  not  endure  the  sound  doctrine; 
but,  having  itching  ears,  will  heap  to  themselves  teachers  after 
their  own  lusts;  4  and  will  turn  away  their  ears  from  the  truth, 
and  turn  aside  unto  fables.  5  But  be  thou  sober  in  all  things,  suffer 
hardship,  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  fulfill  thy  ministry. 


‘I  see  no  business  in  life  but  the  work  of  Christ.” — Henry  Martyn. 


“No  truer  minister  of  Christ  has  lived  in  modern  times  than  John  Frederick  Oberlin, 
who  turned  his  back  on  the  city  of  Strassburg  and  sought  a  parish  cold  and  remote  among 
the  blue  Alsatian  Mountains.  With  the  pickax  in  his  own  hand  he  led  in  the  roadmaking 
which  connected  his  mountain  parish  with  civilization.  With  his  own  ax  he  chopped 
the  trees  and  hewed  lumber  to  build  the  schoolhouse  no  one  else  would  build.  Out 
of  his  own  salary  he  paid  the  teacher.  In  the  success  of  his  own  garden  he  showed  the 
ignorant  peasants  how  to  till  their  farms.  Sometimes  in  the  midst  of  suspicion  and 
threatened  violence,  but  always  faithful,  he  comforted  the  sorrows  and  taught  the  souls 
of  his  poor  for  sixty  long  years.  Whatever  the  circumstances,  such  is  the  spirit  of  true 
ministry.” — Anonymous. 


“Some  trades  and  professions,  it  is  clear,  will  die  out  as  the  kingdom  of  God  comes 
to  its  own.  But  for  every  voice  that  carries  inspiration  to  its  fellows;  for  every  soul 
that  has  some  authentic  word  from  the  Eternal  wherewith  to  guide  and  bless  mankind, 
there  will  always  be  a  welcome.  No  changes  of  the  future  can  cancel  the  commission 
of  the  preacher.  He  does  not  hold  that  commission  from  any  human  society.  He  is 
the  servant  of  the  Spirit.” — C.  Silvester  Horne. 


ptaget  tot  tf)z  SDag;  “  Most  blessed  Saviour,  who  hast  appointed  divers 
orders  of  men  in  thy  church,  look  graciously  upon  all  thy  ministering  servants. 
Endow  them  with  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Make  them  apt  to  teach,  gentle  to  per¬ 
suade,  and  wise  to  win  souls.  Cheer  and  comfort  them  in  their  labors.  Feed 
them  with  that  bread  of  life  which  they  deal  out  to  their  people.  Bless  them 
in  their  labors  and  make  them  willing  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  thee.  Lord 
Jesus,  let  thine  especial  blessing  rest  upon  those  who  are  preaching  thy 
gospel  to  the  heathen.  Support  them  amid  all  their  trials,  and  grant  that 
the  word  spoken  by  their  mouths  may  have  such  success  that  it  may  never 
be  spoken  in  vain.  And  hasten,  Lord,  the  time  when  they  shall  no  more 
teach  every  man  his  neighbor,  and  every  man  his  brother,  saying,  ‘Know  the 
Lord;  for  all  shall  know  thee,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest.’  Grant  this 
for  thine  own  name’s  sake.”  Amen. — Ashton  Oxenden. 


341 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  8 


BR££»CbnC«j£  Of  Cl)U<Ws»  SDljCiCtplCgi 

C?£t£i£  fOC  t!)C  “But  seek  ye  first  his  kingdom,  and  his  righteousness; 

and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you. — Matthew  6.  33. 

Session  for  UjeSDap:  Matthew  5.  3-12. 

3  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit:  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven. 

4  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn:  for  they  shall  be  comforted. 

5  Blessed  are  the  meek:  for  they  shall  inherit  the  earth. 

6  Blessed  are  they  that  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness: 
for  they  shall  be  filled. 

7.  Blessed  are  the  merciful:  for  they  shall  obtain  mercy. 

8  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart:  for  they  shall  see  God. 

9  Blessed  are  the  peacemakers:  for  they  shall  be  called  sons 
of  God. 

10  Blessed  are  they  that  have  been  persecuted  for  righteous¬ 
ness’  sake:  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  n  Blessed  are  ye 
when  men  shall  reproach  you,  and  persecute  you,  and  say  all  man¬ 
ner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake.  12  Rejoice,  and  be 
exceeding  glad:  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven:  for  so  perse¬ 
cuted  they  the  prophets  that  were  before  you. 


“Oh!  if  we  owe  warm  thanks  to  Heaven,  ’tis  when 
In  the  slow  progress  of  the  struggling  years 
Our  touch  is  blest  to  feel  the  pulse  of  men 
Who  walk  in  light  and  love  above  their  peers 
White-robed,  and  forward  point  with  guiding  hand, 

Breathing  a  heaven  around  them  where  they  stand.” 

— John  Stuart  Blackie. 

“  ‘Blessed  of  my  Father,’  that  is  our  eternal  name!  How  those  words  come  to  us  in 
the  tingling  stillness  of  the  night,  when  panic  fears  oppress  our  loneliness  and  strangely 
vex  our  souls!  How  they  rise  soft  and  clear  above  the  rolling  of  the  world,  in  hours  of 
weariness  and  of  obstinate  temptation!  How  they  sing  songs  to  the  fear  of  death,  and 
lull  it  when  it  wakens  and  cries,  ‘Blessed  of  my  Father!’  ” — Frederick  W.  Faber. 

“He  is  so  infinitely  blessed,  that  every  perception  of  his  blissful  presence  imparts  a 
vital  gladness  to  the  heart.  Every  degree  of  approach  to  him  is,  in  the  same  proportion, 
a  degree  of  happiness.  And  I  often  think  that  were  he  always  present  to  our  mind,  as 
we  are  present  to  him,  there  would  be  no  pain,  nor  sense  of  misery.” — Susanna  Wesley. 


Praper  toe  tlje  a>ag:  ‘  ‘We  are  forced,  O  Father,  to  seek  thee  daily,  and 
thou  offerest  thyself  daily  to  be  found ;  whensoever  we  seek  we  find  thee, 
in  the  house,  in  the  fields,  in  the  temple,  and  in  the  highway.  Whatsoever 
we  do  thou  art  with  us;  whether  we  eat  or  drink,  whether  we  write  or  work, 
read,  meditate  or  pray,  thou  art  ever  with  us;  wheresoever  we  are  or  what¬ 
soever  we  do  we  feel  some  measure  of  thy  mercies  and  love.  If  we  be  oppressed, 
thou  defendest  us;  if  we  hunger,  thou  feedest  us.  Whatsoever  we  need, 
thou  givest  us.  O  continue  this  thy  loving-kindness  toward  us  forever,  that 
all  the  world  may  see  thy  power,  thy  mercy,  and  thy  love,  wherein  thou  hast 
not  failed  us,  that  all  shall  see  that  thy  mercies  endure  forever ;  through 
Jesus  Christ  thy  Son  our  Lord.”  Amen. — J.  Norden  (1548-1625). 

342 


GRATITUDE  DECEMBER  9 

latent  potoet  (ot  I£outs»  ot  ^rial 


(?tt£»t  (Ot  tfjt  2Da^>  “Let  us  therefore  draw  near  with  boldness  unto 
the  throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  receive  mercy,  and  may  find  grace  to 
help  us  in  time  of  need.” — Hebrews  4.  16. 

JLz$$on  (ot  tljz  2Dap:  1  Corinthians  10.  13;  2  Peter  3.  14,  17,  18. 

13  There  hath  no  temptation  taken  you  but  such  as  man  can 
bear:  but  God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted 
above  that  ye  are  able;  but  will  with  the  temptation  make  also  the 
way  of  escape,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  endure  it. 

3.  14  Wherefore,  beloved,  seeing  that  ye  look  for  these  things, 
give  diligence  that  ye  may  be  found  in  peace,  without  spot  and 
blameless  in  his  sight.  17  Ye  therefore,  beloved,  knowing  these 
things  beforehand,  beware  lest,  being  carried  away  with  the  error 
of  the  wicked,  ye  fall  from  your  own  steadfastness.  18  But  grow 
in  the  grace  and  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 
To  him  be  the  glory  both  now  and  forever.  Amen. 


“In  the  fellowship  which  is  established  in  prayer  lies  the  possibility  of  boundless 
power;  for  when  the  connection  is  once  formed,  who  can  lay  down  the,  limits  of  what 
man  can  do  in  virtue  of  the  communion  of  his  spirit  with  the  Infinite  Spirit?” — Brooke 
Foss  Westcott. 

“When  we  are  tried  we  usually  find  ourselves  a  great  deal  braver  and  better  than  we 
thought.  I  believe  this  is  everyone’s  experience;  but  an  apprehension  that  they  may 
belie  themselves  in  the  future  prevents  mankind  from  trumpeting  this  cheerful  sentiment 
abroad.  I  wish  sincerely — for  it  would  have  saved  me  much  trouble — there  had  been 
some  one  to  put  me  in  a  good  heart  about  life  when  I  was  younger;  to  tell  me  how  dan¬ 
gers  are  most  portentous  on  a  distant  sight,  and  how  the  good  in  a  man’s  spirit  will  not 
suffer  itself  to  be  overlaid,  and  rarely  or  never  deserts  him  in  an  hour  of  need.” — Robert 
Louis  Stevenson. 


ptapt  (or  tge  2Dap:  “  Father,  we  bless  thee  for  the  discipline  of  our  daily 
life,  and  pray  that  by  our  experience  we  may  grow  wiser  and  nobler-hearted, 
that  prosperity  may  teach  us  to  be  generous  toward  all,  to  be  charitable 
toward  such  as  we  ought  to  help ;  and  when  sadness  and  adversity  come 
over  us  may  they  still  more  soften  our  hearts,  while  they  confirm  and 
strengthen  our  will,  and  lift  our  souls  upward  to  an  aspiration  for  nobler 
virtues  than  we  have  hitherto  attained.  In  the  midst  of  our  sadness,  when 
crosses  are  laid  on  us  hard  to  bear,  and  the  hitter  cup  of  disappointment  is 
offered  to  our  lips  and  it  may  not  pass  away,  oh  may  our  souls  be  so  strong 
that  with  valiant  might  we  shall  submit  unto  thee,  and  grow  stronger  and 
richer  even  by  our  sorrow  and  our  loss,  and  come  forth  triumphant  at  last 
with  the  crown  of  righteousness  on  our  brows,  and  the  certainty  of  acceptance 
with  thee  in  our  souls.  Then  when  thou  hast  completed  thine  earthly  work 
with  us  wilt  thou  take  us  to  thyself  to  be  with  thee  forever  and  ever,  bright¬ 
ening  toward  the  more  perfect  day,  as  thou  leadest  us  by  thy  Spirit.  So  may 
thy  kingdom  come,  and  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.”  Amen. 
— Theodore  Parker  (1810-1860). 

343 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  io 


t&ijc  treats  Jfrom  iftabnt 

UtE£»t  tOE  tf)t  &)&£♦  “Then  said  Jehovah  unto  Moses,  Behold,  I  will 
rain  bread  from  heaven  for  you.” — Exodus  16.  4. 

Ee$»£0lt  for  t|)C  2DcT^:  John  6.  29-35. 

29  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  This  is  the  work  of 
God,  that  ye  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath  sent.  30  They  said 
therefore  unto  him,  What  then  doest  thou  for  a  sign,  that  we  may 
see,  and  believe  thee?  what  workest  thou?  31  Our  fathers  ate  the 
manna  in  the  wilderness;  as  it  is  written,  He  gave  them  bread 
out  of  heaven  to  eat.  32  Jesus  therefore  said  unto  them,  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  It  was  not  Moses  that  gave  you  the  bread 
out  of  heaven;  but  my  Father  giveth  you  the  true  bread  out  of 
heaven.  33  For  the  bread  of  God  is  that  which  cometh  down  out  of 
heaven,  and  giveth  life  unto  the  world.  34  They  said  therefore  unto 
him,  Lord,  evermore  give  us  this  bread.  35  Jesus  said  unto  them, 
I  am  the  bread  of  life:  he  that  cometh  to  me  shall  not  hunger  and 
he  that  believeth  on  me  shall  never  thirst. 

“God  would  supply  a  table  for  his  people,  even  in  the  wilderness,  a  thing  they 
had  deemed  impossible.  Thus  he  would  display  himself  as  Jehovah — the  God  of 
exhaustless  resources — able  and  willing  to  supply  all  they  need.” — James  Orr. 

“Break  thou  the  bread  of  life,  dear  Lord,  to  me, 

As  thou  didst  break  the  loaves  beside  the  sea. 

Beyond  the  sacred  page,  I  seek  thee,  Lord; 

My  spirit  pants  for  thee,  O  Living  Word. 

“Bless  thou  the  truth,  dear  Lord,  to  me,  to  me, 

As  thou  didst  bless  the  bread  by  Galilee; 

Then  shall  all  bondage  cease,  all  fetters  fall, 

And  I  shall  find  my  peace,  my  all  in  all.” 

— Mary  A.  Lathbury. 

for  t fje  3Da#;  Most  gracious  Father  since  we  depend  wholly  for 
temporal  things  on  thy  kind  and  bounteous  Providence,  be  pleased,  O  thou 
good  and  tender  Father,  to  take  care  of  us  and  give  us,  as  thou  shalt  see  fit, 
whatsoever  our  necessities  require.  But  chiefly,  and  before  all  other  things, 
do  thou  feed  our  souls  with  spiritual  food;  with  food  convenient  for  us; 
whether  of  milk,  if  thou  seest  it  best,  or  of  strong  meat  for  those  who  by 
reason  of  use  have  their  senses  exercised  to  discern  both  good  and  evil.  The 
meat,  O  heavenly  Father,  that  giveth  life  indeed,  is  the  knowledge  of  thee 
and  of  thy  dear  Son,  sent  unto  us  in  thy  holy  Scriptures,  and  by  the  grace  of 
thy  Holy  Spirit ;  so  that  we  may  grow  up  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
the  fullness  of  Christ.  This  is  the  bread  which  cometh  down  from  heaven , 
of  which,  if  a  man  eat  in  verity  and  in  truth,  he  shall  live  forever.  Bestow 
some  portion  of  thy  heavenly  bread  upon  us  day  by  day,  that  the  hunger  and 
thirst  for  earthly  things  may  diminish  in  us  continually.  So  preserve  us  in 
the  fellowship  of  thy  dear  Son,  that  we  may  come  at  last  to  that  blessed  life 
where  neither  sin  nor  temptation  shall  any  longer  trouble  us.  Grant  this 
heavenly  Father,  for  thy  dear  Son’s  sake,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

344 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  u 


UTI) e  Suitigfatti'oujS  of  acitsjaom 

jtPccjSc  for  tjjc  SDag:  “  For  wisdom  is  better  than  rubies; 

And  all  the  things  that  may  be  desired  are  not 
to  be  compared  unto  it.” 

— Proverbs  8.  n. 

Session  foe  tje  2Dap:  Proverbs  3.  13-18. 

13  Happy  is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom, 

And  the  man  that  getteth  understanding. 

14  For  the  gaining  of  it  is  better  than  the  gaining  of  silver, 
And  the  profit  thereof  than  fine  gold. 

15  She  is  more  precious  than  rubies: 

And  none  of  the  things  thou  canst  desire  are  to  be  compared 
unto  her. 

16  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand; 

In  her  left  hand  are  riches  and  honor. 

17  Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness, 

And  all  her  paths  are  peace. 

18  She  is  a  tree  of  life  to  them  that  lay  hold  upon  her: 

And  happy  is  every  one  that  retaineth  her. 


“He  is  the  freeman  whom  the  truth  makes  free, 

And  all  are  slaves  beside. 

His  are  the  mountains,  and  the  valleys  his. 

And  the  resplendent  rivers;  his  to  enjoy. 

Who,  with  a  filial  confidence  inspired, 

Can  lift  to  heaven  an  unpresumptuous  eye. 

And  smiling  say,  My  Father  made  them  all.” 

— • William  Cow  per. 


“How  few  of  us  order  our  lives  on  the  footing  of  this  teaching  and  act  out  the  belief 
that  Wisdom  is  more  than  wealth!  The  man  who  heaps  millions  together,  and  masses 
it,  fails  in  life,  however  a  vulgar  world  and  a  nominal  church  may  admire  and  glorify 
him.  The  man  who  wins  Wisdom  succeeds,  however  bare  may  be  his  cupboard,  and 
however  people  may  pity  him  for  having  failed  in  life.” — Alexander  Maclaren. 


fOt  “O  Lord  our  God,  who  hast  bidden  the  light  to 

shine  out  of  darkness,  who  hast  again  wakened  us  to  praise  thy  goodness 
and  ask  for  thy  grace;  accept  now,  in  thy  endless  mercy,  the  sacrifice  of  our 
worship  and  thanksgiving,  and  grant  unto  us  all  such  requests  as  may  be 
wholesome  for  us.  Make  us  to  be  children  of  the  light  and  of  the  day,  and 
heirs  of  thy  everlasting  inheritance.  Remember,  O  Lord,  according  to  the 
multitude  of  thy  mercies,  thy  whole  church;  all  who  join  with  us  in  prayer, 
all  our  brethren  by  land  or  sea,  or  wherever  they  may  be  in  thy  vast  kingdom 
who  stand  in  need  of  thy  grace  and  succor.  Pour  out  upon  them  the  riches 
of  thy  mercy,  so  that  we,  redeemed  in  soul  and  body,  and  steadfast  in  faith, 
may  ever  praise  thy  wonderful  and  holy  name;  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.”  Amen. — Greek  Church ,  Third  Century . 


/ 


345 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  12 


?lt)t  influence  of  dSootmes# 

fOt  tf)C  SDiT^t  “Ye  are  our  epistle,  .  .  .  known  and  read  of 

all  men.” — 2  Corinthians  3.  2. 

2Us»0on  for  tfje  Soap;  Matthew  5.  13-16. 

13  Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth:  but  if  the  salt  have  lost  its 
savor,  wherewith  shall  it  be  salted?  it  is  thenceforth  good  for 
nothing,  but  to  be  cast  out  and  trodden  under  foot  of  men.  14  Ye 
are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city  set  on  a  hill  cannot  be  hid.  15 
Neither  do  men  light  a  lamp,  and  put  it  under  the  bushel,  but  on 
the  stand;  and  it  shineth  unto  all  that  are  in  the  house.  16  Even 
so  let  your  light  shine  before  men;  that  they  may  see  your  good 
works,  and  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in  heaven. 


“A  Persian  fable  says:  ‘One  day 
A  wanderer  found  a  lump  of  clay, 

So  redolent  of  sweet  perfume 
Its  odors  scented  all  the  room. 

“What  art  thou?”  wras  his  quick  demand; 

“Art  thou  some  gem  from  Samarcand, 

Or  spikenard  in  this  rude  disguise, 

Or  other  costly  merchandise?” 

“Nay,  I  am  but  a  lump  of  clay.” 

“Then  whence  this  wondrous  perfume — say?” 

“Friend,  if  the  secret  I  disclose, 

I  have  been  dwelling  with  the  rose.”  ’ 

Sweet  parable!  and  will  not  those 
Who  love  to  dwell  with  Sharon’s  Rose, 

Distil  sweet  odors  all  around, 

Though  low  and  mean  themselves  are  found? 

Dear  Lord,  abide  with  us,  that  we 
May  draw  our  perfume  fresh  from  thee.” 

— Anonymous. 

“God  and  good  angels  alone  know  the  vast  incalculable  influence  that  goes  out  into 
the  universe  of  matter,  from  the  conquered  evil  and  the  voiceless  prayer  of  one  solitary 
soul.  Wouldst  thou  bring  the  world  unto  God?  Then  live  near  to  him  thyself.  If 
divine  life  pervade  thine  own  soul,  everything  that  touches  thee  will  receive  the  electric 
spark,  though  thou  mayest  be  unconscious  of  being  charged  therewith.” — L.  M.  Child. 

t 

Pt &}>ZZ  fOt  SDtl#;  “O  Lord,  lift  up  the  light  of  thy  countenance  upon 

us;  let  thy  peace  rule  in  our  hearts,  and  may  it  be  our  strength  and  our 
song,  in  the  house  of  our  pilgrimage.  We  commit  ourselves  to  thy  care  and 
keeping  this  day;  let  thy  grace  be  mighty  in  us,  and  sufficient  for  us,  and  let 
it  work  in  us  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  thine  own  good  pleasure,  and  grant 
us  strength  for  all  the  duties  of  the  day.  Keep  us  from  sin.  Give  us  the 
rule  over  our  own  spirits,  and  keep  us  from  speaking  unadvisedly  with  our 
lips.  May  we  live  together  in  peace  and  holy  love,  and  do  thou  command 
thy  blessing  upon  us,  even  life  forevermore.  Prepare  us  for  all  the  events 
of  the  day,  for  we  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth.  Give  us  grace 
to  deny  ourselves,  to  take  up  our  cross  daily,  and  to  follow  in  the  steps  of 
our  Lord  and  Master,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Matthew  Henry 
(1672-1714). 


346 


GRATITUDE  DECEMBER  13 

C5oV$  Q5zate  Smffictent  to z  £>ttt 


CPtSgte  (0E  tf)t  i&DtlJH  “My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee:  for  my  power  is 
made  perfect  in  weakness. — 2  Corinthians  12.  9. 

1Lt&&o\\  (ot  tt\c  £Dap:  I  Corinthians  I.  3-9. 

3  Grace  to  you  and  peace  from  God  our  Father  and  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

4  I  thank  my  God  always  concerning  you,  for  the  grace  of  God 
which  was  given  you  in  Christ  Jesus;  5  that  in  everything  ye 
were  enriched  in  him,  in  all  utterance  and  all  knowledge;  6  even 
as  the  testimony  of  Christ  was  confirmed  in  you:  7  so  that  ye  come 
behind  in  no  gift;  waiting  for  the  revelation  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  8  who  shall  also  confirm  you  unto  the  end,  that  ye  be  unre- 
provable  in  the  day  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  9  God  is  faithful, 
through  whom  ye  were  called  into  the  fellowship  of  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord. 


“  How  gentle  God’s  commands! 

How  kind  his  precepts  are! 

Come,  cast  your  burdens  on  the  Lord,  . 

And  trust  his  constant  care. 

“Beneath  his  watchful  eye 
His  saints  securely  dwell; 

That  hand  which  bears  all  nature  up 
Shall  guard  his  children  well. 

“Why  should  this  anxious  load 
Press  down  your  weary  mind? 

Haste  to  your  heavenly  Father’s  throne 
And  sweet  refreshment  find. 

“His  goodness  stands  approved, 

Unchanged  from  day  to  day; 

I’ll  drop  my  burden  at  his  feet, 

And  bear  a  song  away.” 

— Philip  Doddridge. 

for  tf>e  SDag:  “  O  Lord  God  Almighty,  who  givest  power  to  the 
faint,  and  increaseth  strength  to  them  that  have  no  might ;  without  thee  we 
can  do  nothing,  but  by  thy  gracious  assistance  we  are  enabled  for  the  perform¬ 
ance  of  every  duty  laid  upon  us.  Lord  of  power  and  love,  we  come,  trusting 
in  thine  almighty  strength,  and  thine  infinite  goodness,  to  ask  from  thee  what 
is  wanting  in  ourselves;  even  that  grace  which  shall  help  us  such  to  be,  and 
such  to  do,  as  thou  wouldst  have  us.  O  our  God,  let  thy  grace  be  sufjiciejit 
for  us ,  and  ever  present  with  us,  that  we  may  do  all  things  as  we  ought. 
We  will  trust  in  thee,  in  whom  is  everlasting  strength.  Be  thou  our  Helper, 
to  carry  us  on  beyond  our  own  strength,  and  to  make  all  that  we  think, 
and  speak,  and  do  acceptable  in  thy  sight;  through  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — 
Benjamin  J enks. 


347 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  14 

<Boti  £Dut  deeper 


®ti&t  tot  tfjt  $Dap: 


for  tf)e$r>ap: 


“Doth  not  he  that  weigheth  the  hearts  consider  it? 
And  he  that  keepeth  thy  soul,  doth  he  not  know  it  ? 
And  shall  not  he  render  to  every  man  according 
to  his  work? 

— Proverbs  24.  12. 

Psalm  1 2 1 . 


1  I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  mountains: 

From  whence  shall  my  help  come? 

2  My  help  cometh  from  Jehovah, 

Who  made  heaven  and  earth. 

3  He  will  not  suffer  thy  foot  to  be  moved: 

He  that  keepeth  thee  will  not  slumber. 

4  Behold,  he  that  keepeth  Israel 
Will  neither  slumber  nor  sleep. 

5  Jehovah  is  thy  keeper: 

Jehovah  is  thy  shade  upon  thy  right  hand. 

6  The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by  day, 

Nor  the  moon  by  night. 

7  Jehovah  will  keep  thee  from  all  evil; 

He  will  keep  thy  soul. 

8  Jehovah  will  keep  thy  going  out  and  thy  coming  in 
From  this  time  forth  and  for  evermore. 


“Do  not  look  forward  to  the  changes  and  chances  of  this  life  in  fear;  rather  look 
to  them  with  full  hope  that,  as  they  arise,  God,  whose  you  are,  will  deliver  you  out 
of  them.  He  is  your  keeper.  He  has  kept  you  hitherto.  Do  you  but  hold  fast  to  his 
dear  hand,  and  he  will  lead  you  safely  through  all  things;  and,  when  you  cannot  stand, 
he  will  bear  you  in  his  arms.  Do  not  look  forward  to  what  may  happen  to-morrow. 
Our  Father  will  either  shield  you  from  suffering,  or  he  will  give  you  strength  to  bear  it.” 
— Francis  de  Sales. 


pcaget  tor  tftc  SDag:  O  Lord,  thou  hast  searched  us  and  known  us.  Thou 
art  our  keeper.  Thou  hast  been  with  us  during  all  our  days.  The  mystery 
of  thine  omnipresence  we  cannot  comprehend,  but  the  assurance  of  thy  word 
that  thou  art  with  us  by  day  and  by  night  we  desire  to  receive  into  our 
hearts.  Cause  us  to  know  this  and  to  act  in  accordance  with  its  truth.  O 
heavenly  Father,  impress  this  deeply  upon  our  minds.  Raise  us  above  the 
things  which  are  seen,  and  make  us  to  endure  as  seeing  thee  who  art  invisible. 
To  thee  we  can  come  and  speak  in  every  time  of  trouble.  In  company  or 
alone,  at  home  or  abroad,  in  our  devotions  and  in  our  business  we  are  ever 
near  thee.  In  all  the  circumstances  of  our  lives  may  we  constantly  feel  that 
there  is  no  friend,  no  protector,  no  patron,  like  thyself.  May  the  thought  of 
thy  presence,  Almighty  Lord,  be  a  check  on  our  hearts  when  we  are  tempted 
to  do  wrong.  Help  us  to  remember  in  the  hour  of  spiritual  peril  that  thou, 
God,  seest  us.  O  Father,  keep  us  from  sin.  Suffer  us  not  to  fall.  When 
we  are  weakest  be  thou  nearest.  When  we  are  most  blind  touch  thou  our 
eyes.  Bless  us  as  a  family.  Unite  us  in  that  love  and  mutual  sympathy  which 
death  cannot  dissolve.  We  ask  these  mercies  with  the  pardon  of  all  our  sins, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour.  Amen. 

348 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  15 

d3od 


Wet$t  tot  tfie  &>ag:  “  Thou  art  my  God,  and  I  will  give  thanks  unto 

thee : 

Thou  art  my  God,  I  will  exalt  thee.” 

— Psalm  1 18.  28. 

for  tjjt  2Dap:  Exodus  15.  1,  2,  II,  13. 

I  Then  sang  Moses  and  the  children  of  Israel  this  song  unto 
Jehovah,  and  spake,  saying, 

I  will  sing  unto  Jehovah,  for  he  hath  triumphed  gloriously: 
The  horse  and  his  rider  hath  he  thrown  into  the  sea. 

2  Jehovah  is  my  strength  and  song, 

And  he  is  become  my  salvation: 

This  is  my  God,  and  I  will  praise  him; 

My  father’s  God,  and  I  will  exalt  him. 

II  Who  is  like  unto  thee,  O  Jehovah,  among  the  gods? 

Who  is  like  thee,  glorious  in  holiness, 

Fearful  in  praises,  doing  wonders? 

13  Thou  in  thy  loving-kindness  hast  led  the  people  that  thou 
hast  redeemed: 

Thou  hast  guided  them  in  thy  strength  to  thy  holy  habita¬ 
tion. 


“Thou  art  the  source  and  center  of  all  minds. 

Their  only  point  of  rest,  Eternal  Word! 

From  thee  departing  they  are  lost,  and  rove 
At  random  without  honor,  hope,  or  peace. 

Prom  thee  is  all  that  soothes  the  life  of  man, 

His  high  endeavor,  and  his  glad  success, 

His  strength  to  suffer,  and  his  will  to  serve. 

But,  O  thou  bounteous  giver  of  all  good, 

Thou  art  of  all  thy  gifts  thyself  the  crown! 

Give  what  thou  canst,  without  thee  we  are  poor; 

And  with  thee  rich,  take  what  thou  wilt  away.” 

— William  Cozvper. 


Pcapfc  tot  tfjc  Qap:  “  O  God,  who  art  the  only  Good,  the  priceless 
Treasure  of  all  faithful  hearts,  in  thee  alone  can  our  wearied  spirits  find 
full  satisfaction  and  rest,  and  in  thy  love  is  the  highest  joy.  Lord ,  if  we 
have  thee,  we  have  enough,  for  thy  favor  is  better  than  life  itself ;  and  we  are 
happy  if  thou  wilt  but  give  peace  to  our  consciences,  and  make  us  know 
how  gracious  and  merciful  thou  art.  Preserve  in  our  hearts  that  peace  which 
passeth  all  understanding,  and  make  us  better  and  holier  in  time  to  come. 
Strengthen  any  of  us  who  are  in  any  sorrow  or  perplexity  by  the  inward 
comfort  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  and  bid  us  know  that  our  light  affliction,  which  is 
but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory.  .  .  .  Refresh  all  who  are  wearied,  and  strengthen  those  to  whom 
even  night  bringeth  not  repose.  Watch  by  the  sick;  guard  those  who  are 
little  and  weak.  May  we  all  alike  be  safe  in  thy  gracious  keeping.  So  bring 
us  all  in  thine  own  time  from  the  darkness  of  this  world  to  thine  eternal  light 
and  peace  and  rest;  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.”  Amen. — M.  Ritter  (1689). 

349 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  16 


U&e  (Bootmc##  of  (Bod 

fOt  tf)t  j&DajH  “Despisest  thou  the  riches  of  his  goodness  and  for¬ 
bearance  and  long-suffering,  not  knowing  that  the  goodness  of  God  leadeth 
thee  to  repentance?” — Romans  2.  4. 

HestfonfottSefcDaj:  Psalm  86.  1-6. 

1  Bow  down  thine  ear,  O  Jehovah,  and  answer  me; 

For  I  am  poor  and  needy. 

2  Preserve  my  soul;  for  I  am  godly: 

O  thou  my  God,  save  thy  servant  that  trusteth  in  thee. 

3  Be  merciful  unto  me,  O  Lord; 

For  unto  thee  do  I  cry  all  the  day  long. 

4  Rejoice  the  soul  of  thy  servant; 

For  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  do  I  lift  up  my  soul. 

5  For  thou,  Lord,  art  good,  and  ready  to  forgive, 

And  abundant  in  loving-kindness  unto  all  them  that  call 
upon  thee. 

6  Give  ear,  O  Jehovah,  unto  my  prayer; 

And  hearken  unto  the  voice  of  my  supplications. 

“I  see  the  wrong  that  round  me  lies, 

I  feel  the  guilt  within; 

I  hear  with  groan  and  travail  cries. 

The  world  confess  its  sin. 

“Yet,  in  the  maddening  maze  of  things. 

And  tossed  by  storm  and  flood, 

To  one  fixed  trust  my  spirit  clings; 

I  know  that  God  is  good!”  — John  G.  Whittier. 

ptagft  foe  tfje  &>ag:  “  Gracious  and  glorious  Lord,  the  eyes  of  all  wait 

upon  thee.  Thou  art  the  hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth.  In  thee  we  live 
and  move  and  have  our  being.  Thou  givest  us  life  and  breath  and  all  things. 
Thy  mercies  are  daily  bestowed  upon  us.  Thy  goodness  is  new  every  morning. 

Enable  us,  in  the  strength  of  thy  grace  and  of  thy  gifts,  to  love 
thee  truly,  to  serve  thee  faithfully,  and  to  depend  on  thee  without  wavering. 
Give  us  grace  to  acknowledge  thee  in  all  our  ways,  and  be  thou  graciously 
pleased  to  establish  our  goings,  and  to  direct  our  paths.  Grant  us  thy 
fatherly  protection,  and  the  heavenly  guidance  of  thy  good  Spirit. 

Grant  unto  us  a  due  supply  of  all  things  needful  for  us.  Sanctify  to  us  all 
our  employments,  our  comforts,  and  our  troubles;  every  condition  of  life, 
and  every  event  that  shall  befall  us.  .  .  .  If  thou  enlighten  us  not,  we 

shall  run  into  error;  if  thou  prevent  not,  we  shall  sink  into  sin;  if  thou 
preserve  not,  we  shall  fall  into  danger.  Let  thy  good  providence  be  our 
defense  and  security,  and  thy  Holy  Spirit  our  Comforter,  Guide  and  Coun¬ 
selor  in  all  our  ways,  until,  through  the  merits  of  thy  Son,  and  the  multi¬ 
tude  of  thy  mercies,  we  are  received  into  thine  everlasting  kingdom.  Grant 
these  petitions,  we  beseech  thee,  O  Father,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.”  Amen. — Augustus  M.  Toplady  (1740-1778). 


350 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  17 
m*  iSDitune  pit# 


Petste  tot  tty  SDap: 
1Lt0$on  (ot  tf)*  2Dap: 


“Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 

So  Jehovah  pitieth  them  that  fear  him.” 

— Psalm  103.  13. 


Isaiah  63.  7-9. 


7  I  will  make  mention  of  the  loving-kindnesses  of  Jehovah, 
and  the  praises  of  Jehovah,  according  to  all  that  Jehovah  hath  be¬ 
stowed  on  us,  and  the  great  goodness  toward  the  house  of  Israel, 
which  he  hath  bestowed  on  them  according  to  his  mercies,  and 
according  to  the  multitude  of  his  loving-kindnesses.  8  For  he  said, 
Surely,  they  are  my  people,  children  that  will  not  deal  falsely: 
so  he  was  their  Saviour.  9  In  all  their  affliction  he  was  afflicted, 
and  the  angel  of  his  presence  saved  them:  in  his  love  and  in  his 
pity  he  redeemed  them;  and  he  bare  them,  and  carried  them  all  the 
days  of  old. 


“In  our  sorrow  and  sadness  we  look  up  to  thee;  and  when  mortal  friends  fail  us,  and 
the  urn  that  held  our  treasured  joys  is  broken  into  fragments,  and  the  wine  of  life  is 
scattered  at  our  feet,  O  Lord,  we  rejoice  to  know  that  thou  understandest  our  lot,  and  wilt 
make  every  sorrow  of  our  life  turn  out  for  our  endless  welfare  and  our  continual  growth, 
so  that  thou  wilt  take  us  home  to  thyself,  with  no  stain  of  weeping  on  our  face.” 

— Anonymous. 


“What  the  particular  thoughts  or  temptations  are  that  disquiet  you  I  know  not; 
but,  whatsoever  they  are,  look  above  them,  and  labor  to  fix  your  eye  on  that  infinite 
goodness,  which  never  faileth  them  that,  by  faith,  do  absolutely  rely  and  rest  upon  it; 
and  patiently  wait  upon  him,  who  hath  pronounced  them  all,  without  exception,  blessed 
that  do  so.” — Robert  Leighton. 


pta yet  for  tty  £Dag:  O  God,  our  Father,  we  thank  thee  for  thy  divine 
love  and  pity.  Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them 
that  fear  him.  This,  O  God,  is  our  faith  and  for  it  we  thank  thee.  Make 
more  real  to  us  every  day  thy  love  and  care.  To  thee  we  commend  all  for 
whom  we  should  pray.  We  have  many  relatives  and  friends  whom  we  love 
and  who  love  us.  Hear  their  prayers  for  us.  Hear  us  when  we  commend 
them  unto  thee.  Some  of  them  have  great  trials:  we  beseech  thee,  good 
Lord,  to  support  them  under  them.  Some  have  sore  temptations:  give  grace 
to  them  and  us  to  overcome  through  the  strength  of  Christ  Jesus.  Grant 
unto  them  the  saving  knowledge  of  the  Redeemer,  that,  trusting  in  him, 
and  walking  in  his  ways,  they  may  come  with  us,  and  with  all  the  family  that 
is  named  after  Jesus,  to  thine  everlasting  kingdom.  We  pray  for  the  sick. 
Be  merciful  to  them  in  their  illnesses  and  show  them  the  Great  Physician. 
Through  him  do  thou  heal  all  their  diseases  and  forgive  all  their  iniquity. 
There  are  many,  O  Lord,  who  are  in  the  night  of  ignorance  and  sin.  O 
merciful  God,  send  forth  thy  light  unto  them,  and  give  them  thy  salvation. 
Hear  us,  we  earnestly  beseech  thee,  in  these  our  petitions,  and  mercifully 
grant  to  answer  us  for  the  sake  of  our  precious  Saviour,  thy  Son,  our  Lord, 
to  whom,  with  thee  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  one  God,  be  the  kingdom,  the  power, 
and  the  glory,  forever.  Amen. 


351 


GRATITUDE 


DECEMBER  18 


(5oV&  for  Wl& 

for  tf)£  £Dft£t  “For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  eternal  life.” — John  3.  16. 

Heston  for  tfjeSDap:  Psalm  103.  13-18. 

13  Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 

So  Jehovah  pitieth  them  that  fear  him. 

14  For  he  knoweth  our  frame; 

He  remembereth  that  we  are  dust. 

15  As  for  man,  his  days  are  as  grass; 

As  a  flower  of  the  field,  so  he  flourisheth. 

16  For  the  wind  passeth  over  it,  and  it  is  gone; 

And  the  place  thereof  shall  know  it  no  more. 

17  But  the  loving-kindness  of  Jehovah  is  from  everlasting 

to  everlasting  upon  them  that  fear  him, 

And  his  righteousness  unto  children’s  children; 

18  To  such  as  keep  his  covenant, 

And  to  those  that  remember  his  precepts  to  do  them. 


“Love  is  the  greatest  thing  that  God  can  give  us,  for  himself  is  Love;  and  it  is  the 
greatest  thing  we  can  give  to  God,  for  it  will  also  give  ourselves,  and  carry  with  it  all 
that  is  ours.” — Jeremy  Taylor. 

“0  love  of  God  most  full, 

O  love  of  God  most  free, 

Thou  warms’t  my  heart,  thou  fill’st  my  soul, 

With  might  thou  strength’nest  me. 

Warm  as  the  glowing  sun, 

So  shines  thy  love  on  me, 

It  wraps  me  round  with  kindly  care, 

It  draws  me  unto  thee. 

“No  foe  can  cast  me  down. 

No  fear  can  make  me  flee, 

No  sorrow  fill  my  life  with  ill; 

Thy  love  surroundeth  me. 

The  wildest  sea  is  calm, 

The  tempest  brings  no  fear. 

The  darkest  night  is  full  of  light, 

Because  thy  love  is  near.” 

— Oscar  Clute. 


pra yet  for  SDap:  ‘  ‘Ah,  Lord  God,  thou  holy  Lover  of  our  souls,  when 
thou  comest  into  our  souls,  all  that  is  within  us  shall  rejoice.  Thou  art 
our  glory  and  the  exaltation  of  our  hearts;  thou  art  our  hope  and  refuge  in 
the  day  of  our  trouble.  Set  us  free  from  all  evil  passions,  and  heal  our 
hearts  of  all  inordinate  affections;  that,  being  inwardly  cured  and  thoroughly 
cleansed,  we  may  be  made  fit  to  love,  courageous  to  suffer,  steady  to  persevere. 
Nothing  is  sweeter  than  love;  nothing  more  courageous,  nothing  fuller  nor 
better  in  heaven  or  on  earth ;  because  love  is  born  of  God,  and  cannot  rest 
but  in  God,  above  all  created  things.  Let  us  love  thee  more  than  ourselves, 
nor  love  ourselves  but  for  thee.”  Amen. — Thomas  a  Kempis  (1379-1471). 

352 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  19 

Social  3lti£ttce 


Wtz&t  tot  tSe  £Dag:  “  He  will  not  fail  nor  be  discouraged,  till  he  have 
set  justice  in  the  earth.” — Isaiah  42.  4. 

for  tty  &>ap:  Amos  5.  10-15. 

5.  10  They  hate  him  that  reproveth  in  the  gate,  and  they  abhor 
him  that  speaketh  uprightly,  n  Forasmuch  therefore  as  ye  trample 
upon  the  poor,  and  take  exactions  from  him  of  wheat:  ye  have 
built  houses  of  hewn  stone,  but  ye  shall  not  dwell  in  them;  ye 
have  planted  pleasant  vineyards,  but  ye  shall  not  drink  the  wine 
thereof.  12  For  I  know  how  manifold  are  your  transgressions,  and 
how  mighty  are  your  sins — ye  that  afflict  the  just,  that  take  a 
bribe,  and  that  turn  aside  the  needy  in  the  gate  from  their  right. 
13  Therefore  he  that  is  prudent  shall  keep  silence  in  such  a  time; 
for  it  is  an  evil  time. 

14  Seek  good,  and  not  evil,  that  ye  may  live;  and  so  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  hosts,  will  be  with  you,  as  ye  say.  15  Hate  the  evil, 
and  love  the  good,  and  establish  justice  in  the  gate:  it  may  be 
that  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts,  will  be  gracious. 


“Now  let  us  all  arise  and  sing 
The  coming  kingdom  of  our  King, 

The  time  when  all  shall  brothers  be, 

Each  loving  each,  all  loving  thee. 

How  long,  0  Lord,  O  Lord,  how  long 
Shall  these  thy  weak  ones  suffer  wrong? 

“O,  when  shall  dawn  the  glorious  day 
For  which  we  hope  and  work  and  pray? 

Dear  Father,  use  what  means  thou  wilt 
To  cleanse  our  lives  from  greed  and  guilt; 

Help  us  to  put  away  our  sin 

And  learn  to  bring  thy  kingdom  in.” 

— Emily  Greene  Balch. 

^ZtXlpZZ  (DC  tty  “Our  Father,  we  pray  that  thou  wilt  give  unto  us 

the  same  broad  sympathy  toward  the  poor  and  oppressed  which  was  so 
manifest  in  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son,  the  Carpenter.  We  pray 
that  soon  there  may  be  a  great  brotherhood  of  all  who  toil  whether  in  shop 
or  store,  in  factory  or  office,  on  the  farm  or  in  the  school,  or  wherever  else 
men  are  doing  the  world’s  work,  as  employers  or  employees — so  that  they 
all  may  be  one,  even  as  thou  and  thy  Son  Jesus  are  one.  May  the 
women  and  children  in  these  homes  of  the  workers  have  the  comforts  which 
make  life  richer  and  fuller.  .  .  .  Give  thy  church  a  clearer  view  of  her  task  of 
leadership  in  securing  greater  justice  for  the  toilers  and  in  making  their  lives 
count  for  most  both  here  and  hereafter.  Keep  us  from  impatience  with  those 
whose  plans  for  securing  industrial  justice  differ  from  our  own.  Give  unto 
us  all  the  vision  of  the  prophet  who  sees  the  day  when  all  the  ills  of  society 
shall  be  cured,  but  ever  make  us  mindful  of  the  opportunities  for  rendering 
humbler  service  to  others,  while  we  wait  and  work  for  the  better  day.”  Amen. 
— Charles  Stelzle  (b.  1869). 


353 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  20 


OCilottf)  ot  Hot olp  ^etbice 

PtEjSrC  (Ot  tfj?  £Dtl#i  “And  whosoever  shall  give  to  drink  unto  one  of 
these  little  ones  a  cup  of  cold  water  only,  in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  verily 
I  say  unto  you  he  shall  in  no  wise  lose  his  reward.” — Matthew  10.  42. 

tor  tf)t  iSDap:  1  Corinthians  12.  4-11. 

4  Now  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit.  5 
And  there  are  diversities  of  ministrations,  and  the  same  Lord. 
6  And  there  are  diversities  of  workings,  but  the  same  God,  who 
worketh  all  things  in  all.  7  But  to  each  one  is  given  the  manifes¬ 
tation  of  the  Spirit  to  profit  withal.  8  For  to  one  is  given  through 
the  Spirit  the  word  of  wisdom;  and  to  another  the  word  of  knowl¬ 
edge,  according  to  the  same  Spirit:  9  to  another  faith,  in  the  same 
Spirit;  and  to  another  gifts  of  healings,  in  the  one  Spirit;  10  and 
to  another  workings  of  miracles;  and  to  another  prophecy;  and  to 
another  discernings  of  spirits:  to  another  divers  kinds  of  tongues; 
and  to  another  the  interpretation  of  tongues:  11  but  all  these  work¬ 
eth  the  one  and  the  same  Spirit,  dividing  to  each  one  severally 
even  as  he  will. 

“Whatever  may  be  your  office,  regard  it  as  a  fragment  in  an  immeasurable  min¬ 
istry  of  love.” — Brooke  Foss  Westcott. 

“Let  it  be  for  the  encouragement  of  such  among  us  as  are  conscious  of  no  high 
powers,  and  who  sometimes  wonder  for  what  service  in  Christ’s  church  we  are  fit,  that 
in  a  great  structure  all  the  component  portions  are  not  equally  great.  There  are  not 
only  the  solid  and  the  costly,  the  rock  and  timber;  not  only  the  precious  and  ornamental, 
the  gold  and  silver;  but  likewise  the  humble  and  subsidiary,  yea,  even  the  otherwise 
valueless  and  the  minute;  for  not  even  mortar  and  earth  can  be  spared  from  the  con¬ 
struction.  The  Great  Builder  has  some  lowly  crevice  in  his  house,  which  the  meanest 
and  feeblest  of  us  may  occupy.  We  may  not  be  called  to  bear  up  buttresses,  or  to 
crown  turrets,  or  to  adorn  the  carved  work  of  the  sanctuary;  but  it  should  satisfy  us  if, 
in  some  remote  „ recess  and  unknown  shade,  we  fulfill  the  office  which  the  Master  has 
laid  upon  us.” — James  W.  Alexander. 

y&taytK  Cot  tf)t  j&Dtl#}  “O  Lord  our  God,  let  our  devout  approach  to  thee 
be  that  of  the  heart,  not  of  the  lips.  Let  it  be  in  obedience  to  thy  spiritual 
law,  not  to  any  outward  ritual.  Thou  desirest  not  temples  nor  offerings, 
but  the  sacrifice  of  a  lowly  and  grateful  heart  thou  wilt  not  despise.  Merciful 
Father,  to  all  thy  dispensations  we  would  submit  ourselves,  not  grudgingly, 
nor  merely  of  necessity,  but  because  we  believe  in  thy  wisdom,  thy  universal 
rule,  and  thy  goodness.  In  bereavement  and  in  sorrow,  in  death  as  in  life, 
in  joys  and  in  happiness,  we  would  see  thy  Hand.  Teach  us  to  see  it; 
increase  our  faith  where  we  cannot  see;  teach  us  also  to  love  justice,  and  to 
do  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thee  our  God.  Make  us  at  peace  with 
all  mankind,  gentle  to  those  who  offend  us,  faithful  in  all  duties,  and  sincere 
in  sorrow  when  we  fail  in  duty.  Make  us  loving  to  one  another,  patient 
in  distress,  and  ever  thankful  to  thy  divine  power,  which  keeps,  and  guides, 
and  blesses  us  every  day.  Lord,  accept  our  humble  prayer,  accomplish  in  us 
thy  holy  will.  Let  thy  peace  reign  in  our  hearts,  and  enable  us  to  walk 
with  thee  in  love;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — Francis  W . 
Newman  (1805-1897). 


354 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  21 


^ Ity  C5tace  o(  Cfjar it# 

Wn&t  tot  1 6e  2Dap:  “  For  I  was  hungry,  and  ye  gave  me  to  eat;  I 
was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink;  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me 
in.’’ — Matthew  25.  35. 

Visteon  for  tf)e£Dap:  Psalm  41.  1,  2;  Isaiah  58.  5-9. 

1  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor: 

Jehovah  will  deliver  him  in  the  day  of  evil. 

2  Jehovah  will  preserve  him,  and  keep  him  alive, 

And  he  shall  be  blessed  upon  the  earth; 

And  deliver  not  thou  him  unto  the  will  of  his  enemies. 

58.  5  Is  such  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen?  the  day  for  a  man  to 
afflict  his  soul?  Is  it  to  bow  down  his  head  as  a  rush,  and  to 
spread  sackcloth  and  ashes  under  him?  wilt  thou  call  this  a  fast, 
and  an  acceptable  day  to  Jehovah?  6  Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I 
have  chosen:  to  loose  the  bonds  of  wickedness,  to  undo  the  bands 
of  the  yoke,  and  to  let  the  oppressed  go  free,  and  that  ye  break 
every  yoke?  7  Is  it  not  to  deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry,  and  that 
thou  bring  the  poor  that  are  cast  out  to  thy  house?  when  thou 
seest  the  naked,  that  thou  cover  him;  and  that  thou  hide  not  thy¬ 
self  from  thine  own  flesh?  8  Then  shall  thy  light  break  forth  as 
the  morning,  and  thy  healing  shall  spring  forth  speedily;  and  thy 
righteousness  shall  go  before  thee;  the  glory  of  Jehovah  shall  be 
thy  rearward.  9  Then  shalt  thou  call,  and  Jehovah  will  answer;  thou 
shalt  cry,  and  he  will  say,  Here  I  am. 


“If  on  a  cold,  dark  night  you  see  a  man  picking  his  way  up  a  rickety  pair  of  stairs 
where  one  of  God’s  poor  children  lives,  with  a  heavy  basket  on  his  arm,  you  need  not 
stop  him  to  ask  if  he  loves  the  Lord.” 

“No  man  is  a  better  merchant  than  he  that  lays  out  his  time  upon  God,  and  his 
money  upon  the  poor.” — Jeremy  Taylor. 

“  ‘And  he  said  within  himself,  What  shall  I  do?’  .  .  .  What  shalt  thou  do\  Why, 
are  not  those  at  the  door,  whom  God  hath  appointed  to  receive  what  thou  canst  spare? 
What  shalt  thou  do?  Why,  disperse  abroad,  and  give  to  the  poor.  Feed  the  hungry. 
Clothe  the  naked.  Be  a  father  to  the  fatherless,  and  a  husband  to  the  widow.  Freely 
thou  hast  received;  freely  give.” — John  Wesley. 


fOt  tf)t  SDa^  “O  God,  grant  that  thy  spirit  may  teach  us,  so 
that  we  may  gladly  give  of  our  bread  to  them  that  hunger,  and  our  shelter 
to  the  Son  of  man  who  has  nowhere  to  lay  his  head.  May  we  know  that 
in  all  guises  thine  angels  come  to  us,  and  grow  radiant  only  after  they  are 
gone.  And  may  we  make  the  presence  of  our  home  felt  all  about  us,  in  this 
place  where  we  dwell ;  may  no  sect  or  party  name  ever  close  our  hearts 
and  our  home  to  the  good,  of  any  name  or  nation.  So  may  these  points  of 
good  living  in  all  pureness  make  this  dwelling  to  all  what  thou  hast  made 
it  to  us,  as  the  house  of  God  and  the  very  gate  of  heaven.  Then,  being 
faithful  in  our  few  things,  may  we  know  that  thou  hast  said  ‘Well  done’ 
and  enter  into  thy  joy,  through  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. 

355 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  22 


Sitting  a  helpful  JLitc 

H?erjG»e  (or  fyt  $Dap:  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  .  .  .  who  went  about  do¬ 

ing  good.” — Acts.  10.  38. 

H*s»£onfott!)e£Dag:  Mark  7.  29-34. 

29  And  straightway,  when  they  were  come  out  of  the  syn- 
agogue,  they  came  into  the  house  of  Simon  and  Andrew,  with  James 
and  John.  30  Now  Simon’s  wife’s  mother  lay  sick  of  a  fever;  and 
straightway  they  tell  him  of  her:  31  and  he  came  and  took  her  by 
the  hand,  and  raised  her  up;  and  the  fever  left  her,  and  she 
ministered  unto  them. 

32  And  at  even  when  the  sun  did  set,  they  brought  unto  him 
all  that  were  sick,  and  them  that  were  possessed  with  demons. 
33  And  all  the  city  was  gathered  together  at  the  door.  34  And  he 
healed  many  that  were  sick  with  divers  diseases,  and  cast  out  many 
demons;  and  he  suffered  not  the  demons  to  speak,  because  they 
knew  him. 


“My  experience  of  life  makes  me  sure  of  one  truth,  which  I  do  not  try  to  explain; 
that  the  sweetest  happiness  we  ever  know,  the  very  wine  of  human  life,  comes  not  from 
love,  but  from  sacrifice — from  the  efforts  to  make  others  happy.  This  is  as  true  to 
me  as  that  my  flesh  will  burn  if  I  touch  red-hot  metal.” — O’  Reilly. 

“May  every  soul  that  touches  mine — 

Be  it  the  slightest  contact — get  therefrom  some  good, 

Some  little  grace,  one  kindly  thought, 

One  inspiration  yet  unfelt,  one  bit  of  courage 
For  the  darkening  day,  one  gleam  of  faith 
To  brave  the  thickening  ills  of  life, 

One  glimpse  of  brighter  skies  beyond  the  gathering  mist, 

To  make  their  life  worth  while, 

And  heaven  a  surer  heritage.” 

Pta^EE  (0E  tf)E  “Almighty  God,  the  author  and  giver  of  life,  we 

bow  before  thee  to  praise  thee  for  thy  past  mercies,  and  to  pray  for  a  con¬ 
tinuance  of  them.  Grant  that  we  may  face  the  duties  of  this  and  every  day 
with  a  sincere  determination  to  live  lives  of  sacrificial  helpfulness.  In  all 
our  tasks  may  we  be  found  diligent  and  faithful;  in  all  our  business  honest 
and  upright;  in  the  engagement  of  our  pleasures  moderate  and  self-denying; 
in  the  use  of  our  wealth,  according  to  our  means,  charitable  and  generous: 
let  not  the  love  of  material  things  gain  dominion  over  us;  let  not  our  wishes 
for  it  be  inordinate,  nor  our  pursuit  of  it  eager  and  anxious:  give  us  grace 
that  we  my  seek  it  but  as  the  means  of  helpfulness  to  our  fellow  men.  Let 
us  seek  for  comfort  and  joy  where  alone  under  thy  blessing  they  may  be 
found :  in  the  conscientious  performance  of  duty ;  in  the  thankful  enjoyment 
of  blessings  bestowed  and  in  the  exercise  of  helpful  and  kindly  acts.  In 
Jesus’  name.”  Amen. 


356 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  23 

ILobt  tot  flDut  iSeigPotgi 


l^ttgit  fOt  tf)£  “Finally,  be  ye  all  likeminded,  compassionate,  lov¬ 

ing  as  brethren,  tenderhearted,  humbleminded.” — 1  Peter  3.  8. 

tottfjf  2Dap;  James  2.  8,  9,  14-17. 

8  Howbeit  if  ye  fulfill  the  royal  law,  according  to  the  scrip¬ 
tures,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself,  ye  do  well:  9  but 
if  ye  have  respect  of  persons,  ye  commit  sin,  being  convicted  by  the 
law  as  transgressors. 

14  What  doth  it  profit,  my  brethren,  if  a  man  say  he  hath  faith, 
but  have  no  works?  can  that  faith  save  him?  15  If  a  brother  or 
sister  be  naked  and  in  lack  of  daily  food,  16  and  one  of  you  say 
unto  them,  Go  in  peace,  be  ye  warmed  and  filled;  and  yet  ye  give 
them  not  the  things  needful  to  the  body;  what  doth  it  profit? 
17  Even  so  faith,  if  it  have  not  works,  is  dead  in  itself. 


“To  love  the  whole  church  is  one  thing;  to  love — that  is,  to  delight  in  the  graces 
and  veil  the  defects — of  the  person  who  misunderstood  me  and  opposed  my  plans  yes¬ 
terday,  whose  peculiar  infirmities  grate  on  my  most  sensitive  feelings,  or  whose  natural 
faults  are  precisely  those  from  which  my  natural  character  most  revolts,  is  quite  an¬ 
other.” — Elizabeth  Charles. 

“Let  a  man  steadily  set  himself  to  behave  toward  those  whom  he  employs,  or  those 
who  employ  him,  toward  railway  porters  and  shop  assistants  and  others  who  minister 
to  his  convenience,  as  being  men  and  women  with  the  same  right  to  courteous  treat¬ 
ment,  and  to  a  real  opportunity  to  make  the  best  of  themselves,  as  he  has  himself;  let 
him  thus  realize  his  debts  to  his  nearest  ‘neighbors,’  and  the  whole  idea  of  humanity, 
of  brotherhood,  will  be  deepened  and  made  real  to  him.  He  will  get  a  habit  of  consider¬ 
ateness  and  thoughtfulness  for  others,  as  belonging  to  Christ,  which  will  express  itself 
habitually  toward  all,  and  especially  the  weak.” — Charles  Gore. 


^zayez  for  tjje  2Dap;  “  O  thou  loving  and  tender  Father  in  heaven,  we 
confess  before  thee,  in  sorrow,  how  hard  and  unsympathetic  are  our  hearts; 
how  often  we  have  sinned  against  our  neighbors  by  want  of  compassion  and 
tenderness;  how  often  we  have  felt  no  true  pity  for  their  trials  and  sor¬ 
rows  and  have  neglected  to  comfort,  help  and  visit  them.  O  Father,  for¬ 
give  this  our  sin,  and  lay  it  not  to  our  charge.  Give  its  grace  ever  to 
alleviate  the  crosses  and  difficulties  of  those  around  us,  and  never  to  add 
to  them ;  teach  us  to  be  consolers  in  sorrow,  to  take  thought  for  the  stranger, 
the  widow,  and  the  orphan;  let  our  charity  show  itself  not  in  words  only, 
but  in  deed  and  truth.  Teach  us  to  judge  as  thou  dost,  with  forbearance, 
with  much  pity  and  indulgence;  and  help  us  to  avoid  all  unloving  judgment 
of  others;  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  thy  Son,  who  loved  us  and  gave 
himself  for  us.”  Amen. — Johann  Arndt  (1555-1621). 


f 


357 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  24 

“life  If atfi  SDone  c^teat 


Wn&t  tot  tf)e  $Dag: 


fLt$$<mtoz  tlieSDap: 


“Oh  sing  unto  Jehovah  a  new  song; 

For  he  hath  done  marvelous  things: 

His  right  hand,  and  his  holy  arm,  hath  wrought 
salvation  for  him.” 

— Psalm  98.  1. 

Luke  1.  46-55. 


46  And  Mary  said, 

My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord, 

47  And  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  in  God  my  Saviour. 

48  For  he  hath  looked  upon  the  low  estate  of  his  handmaid: 
For  behold,  from  henceforth  all  generations  shall  call  me  . 

blessed. 

49  For  he  that  is  mighty  hath  done  to  me  great  things; 

And  holy  is  his  name. 

50  And  his  mercy  is  unto  generations  and  generations 
On  them  that  fear  him. 

51  He  hath  showed  strength  with  his  arm; 

He  hath  scattered  the  proud  in  the  imagination  of  their 
heart. 

52  He  hath  put  down  princes  from  their  thrones, 

And  hath  exalted  them  of  low  degree. 

53  The  hungry  he  hath  filled  with  good  things; 

And  the  rich  he  hath  sent  empty  away. 

54  He  hath  given  help  to  Israel  his  servant, 

That  he  might  remember  mercy 

55  (As  he  spake  unto  our  fathers) 

Toward  Abraham  and  his  seed  forever. 


“Behold,  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  come!  He  is  again  visiting  and  redeeming  his  people. 
.  .  .  His  Spirit  is  poured  forth  on  the  outcasts  of  men,  and  his  love  shed  abroad 
in  their  hearts.  Love  of  all  mankind,  meekness,  gentleness,  humbleness  of  mind,  holy 
and  heavenly  affections,  do  take  place  of  hate,  anger,  pride,  revenge,  and  vile  or  vain 
affections.  Hence,  wherever  the  power  of  the  Lord  spreads,  springs  outward  religion 
in  all  its  forms.  The  houses  of  God  are  filled;  the  table  of  the  Lord  is  thronged  on  every 
side.  And  those  who  thus  show  their  love  of  God,  show  they  love  their  neighbor  also, 
by  being  careful  to  maintain  good  works,  by  doing  all  manner  of  good,  as  they  have 
time,  to  all  men.  They  are  likewise  careful  to  abstain  from  all  evil.  Cursing,  Sabbath 
breaking,  drunkenness,  with  all  other  (however  fashionable)  works  of  the  devil,  are  not 
once  named  among  them.  All  this  is  plain,  demonstrable  fact.  Now,  do  you  acknowledge 
the  day  of  your  visitation?  Do  you  bless  God  and  rejoice  therein?” — John  Wesley. 

fpt  t§Z  We  adore  thee,  O  God,  as  the  source  of  all  whole¬ 

some  and  holy  inspiration.  We  thank  thee  for  the  message  which  came  to 
Mary  amid  the  hills  of  Judaea.  Thy  mercy  hath  been  extended  unto  genera¬ 
tions  and  generations  of  them  that  fear  thee  and  love  thee.  We  worship  thee , 
O  God,  our  Saviour,  who  hath  done  great  things  for  us  and  for  all  mankind. 
We  humble  ourselves  before  thee  because  of  our  sins  and  of  the  sense  of  our 
shortcomings.  We  ask  thee  to  forgive  us,  to  continue  to  extend  unto  us  thy 
mercy,  and  to  use  us  in  the  promotion  of  thy  kingdom,  for  thy  name’s  sake. 
Amen. 


358 


t 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  25 

Cjjttetmag  2Dag 


fOt  tt)Z  2Da^t  “For  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son  is 
given ;  and  the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder :  and  his  name  shall 
be  called  Wonderful,  Counselor,  Mighty  God,  Everlasting  Father,  Prince 
of  Peace.” — Isaiah  9.  6. 

%t$0on  tot  t&e  2Dap:  Luke  2.  8—1 1,  15 ,  16. 

8  And  there  were  shepherds  in  the  same  country  abiding  in  the 
field,  and  keeping  watch  by  night  over  their  flock.  9  And  an  angel 
of  the  Lord  stood  by  them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round 
about  them:  and  they  were  sore  afraid.  10  And  the  angel  said 
unto  them,  Be  not  afraid;  for  behold,  I  bring  you  good  tidings  of 
great  joy  which  shall  be  to  all  the  people:  n  for  there  is  born  to 
you  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a  Saviour,  who  is  Christ  the  Lord. 
15  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  angels  went  away  from  them 
into  heaven,  the  shepherds  said  one  to  another,  Let  us  now  go 
even  unto  Bethlehem,  and  see  this  thing  that  is  come  to  pass,  which 
the  Lord  hath  made  known  unto  us.  16  And  they  came  with  haste, 
and  found  both  Mary  and  Joseph,  and  the  babe  lying  in  the  manger. 

“O  blessed  day  which  giv’st  the  eternal  lie 
To  self,  and  serue,  and  all  the  brute  within; 

O  come  to  us  amid  this  war  of  life; 

To  hall  and  hcvel  come!  to  all  who  toil 
In  senate,  shop,  or  study!  to  all  who  toil 
Ill-warmed,  and  sorely  tempted — 

Come  to  them,  blest  and  blessing,  Christmas  Day! 

Tell  them  once  more  the  tale  of  Bethlehem, 

The  kneeling  shepherds,  and  the  Babe  Divine; 

And  keep  them  men,  indeed,  fair  Christmas  Day!” 

—  Charles  Kingsley. 

f0t  tf)C  SDapt  On  this  Christmas  day,  our  Father,  we  worship  thee 
with  glad  and  thankful  hearts.  With  the  millions  in  all  lands  we  lift  our 
voices  to  thee  in  praise.  We  too  would  join  in  the  heavenly  acclaim,  “Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace  among  men  of  good  will.”  May 
this  be  a  true  Christmas  in  all  our  hearts.  On  this  day,  of  all  days,  save 
us  from  all  spirit  of  selfishness.  May  our  hearts  be  freed  from  all  hatred 
and  enmity  and  jealousy  and  ill  will.  May  only  loving  thoughts  occupy 
our  minds.  While  we  gratefully  receive  the  blessings  of  this  Christmas 
season,  may  our  hearts  be  opened  toward  our  neighbors  and  toward  all  the 
world  in  sympathy  and  brotherly  love.  We  pray  for  those  to  whom  Christ¬ 
mas  brings  rejoicing,  that  their  joy  may  be  enriched  by  gratitude  for  the 
gifts  of  thy  love;  for  the  multitudes  of  children  everywhere  to  whom  the 
day  means  so  much.  We  pray  also  for  those  to  whom  the  day  brings 
little  joy — the  poor  and  the  neglected,  the  burdened  and  the  oppressed, 
the  lonely  and  the  solitary;  for  many  who  are  away  from  their  homes, 
their  hearts  filled  with  loneliness;  for  prisoners  in  their  prisons,  sailors 
upon  the  sea,  and  for  the  multitudes  who  know  not  the  Father’s  love. 
May  the  spirit  of  Christmas  find  its  way  to  all  hearts  this  day  and  may 
the  kingdom  of  thy  Son,  our  Saviour,  whose  birth  we  celebrate,  come  among 
all  men,  everywhere,  in  his  name.  Amen. 

359. 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  26 


jfmnti  to  m 

tOt  tf)E  j3Dap;  “A  man  that  hath  friends  must  show  himself 
friendly.” — Proverbs  18.  24  (King  James  version). 

HtjO^onfottSeSDa^:  Luke  6.  27-35. 

27  But  I  say  unto  you  that  hear,  Love  your  enemies,  do  good 
to  them  that  hate  you,  28  bless  them  that  curse  you,  pray  for  them 
that  despitefully  use  you.  29  To  him  that  smiteth  thee  on  the 
one  cheek  offer  also  the  other;  and  from  him  that  taketh  away 
thy  cloak  withhold  not  thy  coat  also.  30  Give  to  every  one  that 
asketh  thee ;  and  of  him  that  taketh  away  thy  goods  ask  them  not 
again.  31  And  as  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  also 
to  them  likewise.  32  And  if  ye  love  them  that  love  you,  what 
thank  have  ye?  for  even  sinners  love  those  that  love  them.  33  And 
if  ye  do  good  to  them  that  do  good  to  you,  what  thank  have  ye? 
for  even  sinners  do  the  same.  34  And  if  ye  lend  to  them  of  whom 
ye  hope  to  receive,  what  thank  have  ye?  even  sinners  lend  to  sin¬ 
ners,  to  receive  again  as  much.  35  But  love  your  enemies,  and  do 
them  good,  and  lend,  never  despairing;  and  your  reward  shall  be 
great,  and  ye  shall  be  sons  of  the  Most  High:  for  he  is  kind  toward 
the  unthankful  and  evil. 


“Let  me  live  in  a  house  by  the  side  of  the  road, 

Where  the  race  of  men  go  by — 

The  men  who  are  good  and  the  men  who  are  bad, 

As  good  and  as  bad  as  I. 

I  would  not  sit  in  the  scorner’s  seat, 

Or  hurl  the  cynic’s  ban — 

Let  me  live  in  a  house  by  the  side  of  the  road, 

And  be  a  friend  to  man. 

“I  see  from  my  house  by  the  side  of  the  road, 

By  the  side  of  the  roadway  of  life. 

The  men  who  press  with  the  ardor  of  hope. 

The  men  who  are  faint  with  the  strife. 

But  I  turn  not  away  from  their  smiles  nor  their  tears — 

Both  part  of  an  infinite  plan — 

Let  me  live  in  a  house  by  the  side  of  the  road 

And  be  a  friend  to  man.”  — Sam  Walter  Foss. 

ptaget  tor  tgt  S>ag:  “  Our  Father,  as  we  go  out  among  men  to  do  our 
work,  touching  the  hands  and  the  lives  of  our  fellows,  make  us,  we  pray 
thee,  friends  of  all  the  world.  Save  us  from  blighting  the  fresh  flower  of 
any  heart  by  the  flare  of  sudden  anger  or  secret  hate.  May  we  not  bruise 
the  rightful  self-respect  of  any  by  contempt  or  malice.  Help  us  to  cheer 
the  suffering  by  our  sympathy,  to  freshen  the  drooping  by  our  hopefulness, 
and  to  strengthen  in  all  the  wholesome  sense  of  the  worth  and  the  joy  of 
life.  S  ave  us  from  the  deadly  poison  of  class  pride.  Grant  that  we  may 
look  all  men  in  the  face  with  the  eyes  of  a  brother.  If  any  one  needs  us, 
make  us  ready  to  yield  our  help  ungrudgingly,  unless  higher  duties  claim 
us,  and  may  we  rejoice  that  we  have  it  in  us  to  be  helpful  to  our  fellow 
men.”  Amen. — Walter  Rauschenbusch  (1861-1918). 

360 


GOODWILL  DECEMBER  27 

Simple  Art  of  25nng  ^inti 

for  tf)£  2Dap:  “Love  suffereth  long,  and  is  kind.” — 1  Corinthians 
13.  4- 

JLz$$0l\  for  tfjr  2Dap;  Ephesians  4.  25-32. 

25  Wherefore,  putting  away  falsehood,  speak  ye  truth  each 
one  with  his  neighbor:  for  we  are  members  one  of  another.  26  Be 

ye  angry,  and  sin  not:  let  not  the  sun  go  down  upon  your  wrath: 

27  neither  give  place  to  the  devil.  28  Let  him  that  stole  steal  no 
more:  but  rather  let  him  labor,  working  with  his  hands  the  thing 
that  is  good,  that  he  may  have  whereof  to  give  to  him  that  hath 
need.  29  Let  no  corrupt  speech  proceed  out  of  your  mouth,  but 
such  as  is  good  for  edifying  as  the  need  may  be,  that  it  may  give 
grace  to  them  that  hear.  30  And  grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God,  in  whom  ye  were  sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption.  31  Let 
all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamor,  and  railing,  be 
put  away  from  you,  with  all  malice :  32  and  be  ye  kind  one  to 

another,  tenderhearted,  forgiving  each  other,  even  as  God  also  in 

Christ  forgave  you. 

“I  wonder  why  it  is  that  we  are  not  all  kinder  to  each  other  than  we  are.  How 
much  the  world  needs  it!  How  easily  it  is  done!” — Henry  Drummond. 


“Seek  to  cultivate  a  buoyant,  joyous  sense  of  the  crowded  kindnesses  of  God  in 
your  daily  life.” — Alexander  Maclaren. 

“Have  you  ever  noticed  how  much  of  Christ’s  life  was  spent  in  merely  doing  kind 
things?  Run  over  it  with  that  in  view,  and  you  will  find  that  he  spent  a  great  propor¬ 
tion  of  his  time  simply  in  making  people  happy,  in  doing  good  turns  to  people.  There 
is  only  one  thing  greater  than  happiness  in  the  world,  and  that  is  holiness;  and  holiness 
is  not  in  our  keeping;  but  what  God  has  put  in  our  power  is  the  happiness  of  those  about 
us,  and  that  is  largely  to  be  secured  by  our  being  kind  to  them.” — Henry  Drummond. 

“Christianity  is  not  a  religion  of  rules.  It  is  the  religion  of  the  divine  example. 
Try  to  follow  the  blessed  steps  of  the  most  holy  life.  Take  his  advice.  Ask  yourself, 
in  the  moment  of  perplexity  or  temptation,  what  would  he  do  if  he  were  here?  Nothing 
else  will  so  surely  lead  us  into  the  way  of  holy  living.” — George  Hodges. 


Ptaper  tot  tf)C  SDap:  “If  from  all  good  gifts,  O  Lord,  we  may  ask  but 
one,  let  that  be  the  spirit  of  kindness!  Let  others  have  fame  and  fortune 
and  jewels  and  palaces  if  we  may  but  have  the  kindly  spirit.  Give  great¬ 
ness  and  power  to  those  that  want  them,  but  give  to  us  the  spirit  of  brotherly 
kindness.  .  .  .  May  we  never  wound  the  heart  of  any  child  of  thine. 

Make  us  to  do  the  little  unremembered  acts  that  quietly  help  without  intend¬ 
ing  it.  Grant  us  to  bear  about  the  unconscious  radiance  of  a  life  that  knows 
no  grudge,  but  loves  all  men  because  they  are  children  of  the  Father,  who 
loved  them  enough  to  send  his  Son  to  save  them.”  Amen. — George  A.  Miller 
(b.  1868). 


361 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  28 


(Brace  ot  Hob t 

(0t  tf)e  SDap*  “A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye 
love  one  another ;  even  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another. — 
John  13.  34. 

Heston  (ottfje  SDap;  1  John  4.  n-21. 

11  Beloved,  if  God  so  loved  us,  we  also  ought  to  love  one 
another.  12  No  man  hath  beheld  God  at  any  time:  if  we  love  one 
another,  God  abideth  in  us,  and  his  love  is  perfected  in  us:  13 
Hereby  we  know  that  we  abide  in  him  and  he  in  us,  because  he 
hath  given  us  of  his  Spirit.  14  And  we  have  beheld  and  bear  wit¬ 
ness  that  the  Father  hath  sent  the  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of  the 
world.  15  Whosoever  shall  confess  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God, 
God  abideth  in  him,  and  he  in  God.  16  And  we  know  and  have 
believed  the  love  which  God  hath  in  us.  God  is  love;  and  he  that 
abideth  in  love  abideth  in  God,  and  God  abideth  in  him.  17  Herein 
is  love  made  perfect  with  us,  that  we  may  have  boldness  in  the 
day  of  judgment;  because  as  he  is,  even  so  are  we  in  this  world.  18 
There  is  no  fear  in  love:  but  perfect  love  casteth  out  fear,  because 
fear  hath  punishment;  and  he  that  feareth  is  not  made  perfect  in 
love.  19  We  love,  because  he  first  loved  us.  20  If  a  man  say,  I  love 
God,  and  hateth  his  brother,  he  is  a  liar:  for  he  that  loveth  not 
his  brother  whom  he  hath  seen,  cannot  love  God  whom  he  hath  not 
seen.  21  And  this  commandment  have  we  from  him,  that  he  who 
loveth  God  love  his  brother  also. 


“Beloved,  let  us  love  so  well 
Our  work  shall  still  be  better  for  our  love, 

And  still  our  love  be  sweeter  for  our  work!” 

— Mrs.  Browning. 

“Oh,  how  many  times  we  can  most  of  us  remember  when  we  would  gladly  have 
made  any  compromise  with  our  consciences,  would  gladly  have  made  the  most  costly 
sacrifices  to  God,  if  he  would  only  have  excused  us  from  this  duty  of  loving,  of  which 
our  nature  seemed  utterly  incapable.  It  is  far  easier  to  feel  kindly,  to  act  kindly,  toward 
those  with  whom  we  are  seldom  brought  into  contact,  whose  tempers  and  prejudices 
do  not  rub  against  ours,  whose  interests  do  not  clash  with  ours,  than  to  keep  up  an 
habitual,  steady,  self-sacrificing  love  toward  those  whose  weaknesses  and  faults  are 
always  forcing  themselves  upon  us,  and  are  stirring  up  our  own.  A  man  may  pass 
good  muster  as  a  philanthropist  who  makes  but  a  poor  master  to  his  servants,  or  father 
to  his  children.” — F.  D.  Maurice. 

Ptaptt  (ot  tfje  SDag:  “  O  God,  we  have  known  and  believed  the  love 
that  thou  hast  for  us.  May  we,  by  dwelling  in  love,  dwell  in  thee,  and 
thou  in  us.  May  we  learn  to  love  thee  whom  we  have  not  seen,  by  loving 
our  brethren  whom  we  have  seen.  Teach  us,  O  heavenly  Father,  the  love 
wherewith  thou  hast  loved  us;  fashion  us,  O  blessed  Lord,  after  thine 
own  example  of  love;  shed  abroad,  O  thou  Holy  Spirit  of  Love,  the  love 
of  God  and  man  in  our  hearts.”  Amen. — Henry  Alford  (1810-1871). 


362 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  29 
Eobe  tit  SDatlp  Jiiit 


(Ot  tfjt  SDapt  “A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye 
love  one  another;  even  as  1  have  loved  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another.” 
— John  13.  34. 

Hf£i£i0n  Cot  tf)E  SDftpt  Colossians  3.  12-15;  1  Thessalonians  4.  9,  10. 

12  Put  on  therefore,  as  God’s  elect,  holy  and  beloved,  a  heart 
of  compassion,  kindness,  lowliness,  meekness,  long-suffering ;  13 
forbearing  one  another,  and  forgiving  each  other,  if  any  man  have 
a  complaint  against  any;  even  as  the  Lord  forgave  you,  so  also  do 
ye:  14  and  above  all  these  things  put  on  love,  which  is  the  bond  of 
perfectness.  15  And  let  the  peace  of  Christ  rule  in  your  hearts, 
to  the  which  also  ye  were  called  in  one  body;  and  be  ye  thankful. 

4.  9  But  concerning  love  of  the  brethren  ye  have  no  need  that 
one  write  unto  you:  for  ye  yourselves  are  taught  of  God  to  love 
one  another;  10  for  indeed  ye  do  it  toward  all  the  brethren  that 
are  in  all  Macedonia.  But  we  exhort  you,  brethren,  that  ye  abound 
more  and  more. 

“Just  before  she  was  shot  by  the  German  authorities  in  the  military  prison  of 
Saint  Gilles,  on  the  charge  of  having  aided  English  and  French  prisoners  to  escape  into 
Holland,  Edith  Cavell  said  to  an  English  chaplain:  ‘I  thank  God  for  ten  weeks’  quiet 
before  the  end.  I  realize  that  patriotism  is  not  enough.  I  must  have  no  hatred  or 
bitterness  toward  anyone.’  This  gives  us  what  we  need  most  of  all — a  vision  of  love 
walking  unafraid  in  the  midst  of  hell.  ...  If  an  Edith  Cavell  can  rise  in  splendid 
majesty  above  the  indignities  which  she  suffered,  dare  we  think  it  impossible  to  meet 
‘criticism  with  kindness,  crossness  with  geniality,  insult  with  courtesy,  injury  with 
charity’?  If  in  war  men  can  fight  without  hatred,  can  we  not  live  and  work  without 
bitterness  of  spirit  and  a  petty  mood  of  selfishness,  forever  brooding  oyer  our  wrongs?” 
— M.  H.  Lichliter. 

“Nothing  is  eternal  but  that  which  is  done  for  God  and  others.  That  which  is 
done  for  self  dies.  Perhaps  it  is  not  wrong,  but  it  perishes.  That  which  ends  in  self 
is  mortal;  that  alone  which  goes  out  of  self  into  God  lasts  forever.” — Frederick  JV.  Rob¬ 
ertson. 


“Greet  your  brother  in  the  street 

With  friendly  smile  and  helping  hand; 

Give  him  his  portion  in  the  land; 

Be  good  to  him  whene’er  you  meet. 

It  may  be  through  your  love  that  he 
The  Father’s  love  and  care  will  see, 

Then  win  and  keep  him  by  your  side 
For  whom  Christ  died.” 

— Anonymous. 

(Ot  tf)t  “O  God  of  love,  who  hast  given  a  new  command¬ 

ment  through  thine  only  begotten  Son,  that  we  should  love  one  another, 
even  as  thou  didst  love  us,  the  unworthy  and  the  wandering,  and  gavest 
thy  beloved  Son  for  our  life  and  salvation;  we  pray  thee,  Lord,  give  to 
us,  thy  servants,  in  all  time  of  our  life  on  the  earth,  a  mind  forgetful  of 
past  ill  will,  a  pure  conscience  and  sincere  thoughts,  and  a  heart  to  love  our 
brethren;  for  the  sake  of  .Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son,  our  Lord  and  only  Saviour. 
Amen.” — Coptic  Liturgy  of  Saint  Cyril,  A.  D.  315. 


GOODWILL  DECEMBER  30 

j&ettoict  a  Map  to  C3oti 

(Ot  t|)t  SDa^t  “I  am  in  the  midst  of  you  as  he  that  serveth.” — 
Luke  22.  27. 

3£t££onfottf)e  2Dap:  John  13.  5-7,  12-17. 

5  Then  he  poureth  water  into  the  basin,  and  began  to  wash 
the  disciples’  feet,  and  to  wipe  them  with  the  towel  wherewith  he 
was  girded.  6  So  he  cometh  to  Simon  Peter.  He  saith  unto  him, 
Lord,  dost  thou  wash  my  feet?  7  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now;  but  thou  shalt  understand 
hereafter. 

12  So  when  he  had  washed  their  feet,  and  taken  his  garments, 
and  sat  down  again,  he  said  unto  them,  Know  ye  what  I  have  done 
to  you?  13  Ye  call  me,  Teacher,  and,  Lord:  and  ye  say  well;  for 
so  I  am.  14  If  I  then,  the  Lord  and  the  Teacher,  have  washed  your 
feet,  ye  also  ought  to  wash  one  another’s  feet.  15  For  I  have  given 
you  an  example,  that  ye  also  should  do  as  I  have  done  to  you. 
16  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  A  servant  is  not  greater  than  his 
lord;  neither  one  that  is  sent  greater  than  he  that  sent  him.  17  If 
ye  know  these  things,  blessed  are  ye  if  ye  do  them. 

“My  faith  begins  where  your  religion  ends — 

In  service  to  mankind.  This  single  thread 
Is  given  to  guide  us  through  the  maze  of  life. 

You  start  at  one  end,  I  the  other;  you, 

With  eyes  fixed  only  upon  God,  begin 
With  lofty  faith,  and,  seeking  but  to  know 
And  do  his  will  who  guides  the  universe. 

You  find  the  slender  and  mysterious  thread 
Leads  down  to  earth,  with  God’s  divine  command 
To  help  your  fellow  men;  but  this  to  me 
Is  something  strangely  vague.  I  see  alone 
The  fellow  men,  the  suffering  fellow  men. 

Yet,  with  a  cup  of  water  in  my  hand 
For  all  who  thirst,  who  knows  but  I  one  day, 

Following  faithfully  the  slender  thread, 

May  reach  its  other  end,  and  kneel  at  last 
With  you  in  heaven  at  the  feet  of  God?” 

— Alice  Wellington  Rollins. 

pragtr  for  tljt  a>ag:  “  O  God,  our  everlasting  hope,  as  disciples  of  One 
who  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head,  may  we  freely  welcome  the  toils  and 
sufferings  of  our  humanity,  and  seek  only  strength  to  glorify  the  cross  thou 
layest  on  us.  Every  work  of  our  hand  may  we  do  unto  thee;  in  every 
trouble  trace  some  lights  of  thine;  and  let  no  blessing  fall  on  dry  and  thank¬ 
less  hearts.  Redeeming  the  time,  may  we  fill  every  waking  hour  with 
faithful  duty  and  well-ordered  affections,  as  the  sacrifice  which  thou  hast 
provided.  Fill  us  with  patient  tenderness  for  others,  seeing  that  we  also 
are  in  the  same  case  before  thee;  and  make  us  ready  to  help,  and  quick  to 
forgive.  And  then  fix  every  grace,  compose  every  fear  by  a  steady  trust  in 
thine  eternal  realities.  Grant  this,  O  heavenly  Father,  for  the  sake  of 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.”  Amen. — James  Martineau  (1805- 
1900). 


364 


GOODWILL 


DECEMBER  31 

Ef)t  C\o0t  ot  tSe  gear 


f0t  tfjt  &D0|L  “Lo,  I  am  with  you  always.” — Matthew  28.  20. 
JLt$&on  fot  t&tSoap:  Revelation  21.  3—7. 

3  Behold,  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  men,  and  he  shall  dwell 
with  them,  and  they  shall  be  his  peoples,  and  God  himself  shall  be 
with  them,  and  be  their  God:  4  and  he  shall  wipe  away  every  tear 
from  their  eyes;  and  death  shall  be  no  more;  neither  shall  there 
be  mourning,  nor  crying,  nor  pain,  any  more:  the  first  things  are 
passed  away.  5  And  he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  said,  Behold, 
I  make  all  things  new.  And  he  saith,  Write:  for  these  words  are 
faithful  and  true.  6  And  he  said  unto  me,  They  are  come  to 

pass.  I  am  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end. 
I  will  give  unto  him  that  is  athirst  of  the  fountain  of  the  water  of 
life  freely.  7  He  that  overcometh  shall  inherit  these  things;  and 
I  will  be  his  God,  and  he  shall  be  my  son. 

“Another  year  is  dawning, 

Dear  Father,  let  it  be, 

In  working  or  in  waiting, 

Another  year  with  thee; 

Another  year  of  progress. 

Another  year  of  praise, 

Another  year  of  proving 
Thy  presence  all  the  days. 

“Another  year  of  service, 

Of  witness  for  thy  love; 

Another  year  of  training 
For  holier  work  above. 

Another  year  is  dawning, 

Dear  Father,  let  it  be, 

On  earth,  or  else  in  heaven, 

Another  year  for  thee.”  — Frances  R.  Haver  gal. 

“We  turn  and  look  upon  the  valley  of  the  past  year.  There,  below,  are  the  spots 
stained  by  our  toil  and  our  fear.  But  as  we  look,  a  glow  of  sunlight  breaks  upon  the 

past,  and  in  the  sunshine  is  a  soft  rain  falling  from  heaven.  It  washes  away  the  stain, 
and  from  the  purity  of  the  upper  sky  a  voice  seems  to  descend  and  enter  our  sobered 
hearts:  ‘My  child,  go  forward,  abiding  in  faith,  hope,  and  love,  for  lo!  I  am  with  you 
always.’  ” — Stopford  Brooke . 

Pttl ytZ  fDt  “Most  merciful  Father,  who  hast  brought  us  to  the 

close  of  another  year,  teach  us  to  know  the  shortness  and  uncertainty  of  our 
days  in  this  world.  We  humbly  confess  before  thee  all  our  sin  and  un¬ 
worthiness.  Forgive  us,  heavenly  Father,  forgive  us  all  that  is  past:  for 
our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ’s  sake  blot  out  our  iniquities,  and  cleanse  us  from 
all  our  sin.  We  thank  thee  for  all  thy  care  and  protection  of  us,  for  the 
many  mercies  which  we  have  received  and  for  all  thy  patience  and  long- 
suffering  to  us.  Most  humbly  we  beseech  thee  to  go  forth  with  us  into  the 
New  Year.  Give  us  fullness  of  faith  and  steadfastness  of  purpose  to  obey 
thee  in  all  things.  And  grant  that  when  our  years  are  brought  to  an  end 
in  this  world  we  may  enter  thy  eternal  kingdom,  through  the  mercy  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.” — A.  F.  Thornhill. 

365 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


jReto  2Dap 

$EE£i£  fOE  tfyt  jSDftJK  “But  seek  ye  first  his  kingdom,  and  his  righteous¬ 
ness;  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you.” — Matthew  6.  33. 

EeStfOnfOttljtSDap:  Matthew  7.  13,  14,  24-27. 

13  Enter  ye  in  by  the  narrow  gate:  for  wide  is  the  gate,  and 
broad  is  the  way,  that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and  many  are  they 
that  enter  in  thereby.  14  For  narrow  is  the  gate  and  straitened  the 
way,  that  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  are  they  that  find  it. 

24  Every  one  therefore  that  heareth  these  words  of  mine,  and 
doeth  them,  shall  be  likened  unto  a  wise  man,  who  built  his  house 
upon  the  rock:  25  and  the  rain  descended,  and  the  floods  came, 
and  the  winds  blew,  and  beat  upon  that  house;  and  it  fell  not:  for  it 
was  founded  upon  the  rock.  26  And  every  one  that  heareth  these 
words  of  mine,  and  doeth  them  not,  shall  be  likened  unto  a  foolish 
man,  who  built  his  house  upon  the  sand:  27  and  the  rain  descended, 
and  the  floods  came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and  smote  upon  that 
house;  and  it  fell:  and  great  was  the  fall  thereof. 

“Let  us  walk  softly,  friend; 

For  strange  paths  lie  before  us  all  untrod; 

The  New  Year,  spotless  from  the  hand  of  God, 

Is  thine  and  mine,  0  friend!”  — Lillian  Grey. 

“The  year  begins;  and  all  its  pages  are  as  blank  as  the  silent  years  of  the  life  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Let  us  begin  it  with  high  resolution;  then  let  us  take  all  its  limitations,  all  its 
hindrances,  its  disappointments,  its  narrow  and  commonplace  conditions,  and  meet 
them  as  the  Master  did  in  Nazareth,  with  patience,  with  obedience,  putting  ourselves 
in  cheerful  subjection,  serving  our  apprenticeship.  Who  knows  what  opportunity  may 
come  to  us  this  year?  Let  us  live  in  great  spirit,  then  we  shall  be  ready  for  a  great 
occasion.” — George  Hodges. 

“To  get  the  most  out  of  the  coming  year  we  must  put  the  most  into  it,  and  we  put 
the  most  into  it  by  living  in  a  spirit  of  earnestness,  doing  with  our  might  what  our 
hand  finds  to  do,  not  trifling  with  the  golden  hours,  but  receiving  each  as  a  precious 
gift  from  God.  Only  such  earnest  purpose  makes  the  day  a  blessing,  insures  progress 
from  good  to  better,  and  causes  us  to  live  in  eternity  while  we  are.  in  time.” — James 
Freeman  Clarke. 

PEft^EE  (OE  tf)C  “We  render  unto  thee  our  thanksgiving,  O  Lord 

our  God,  Father  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  by  all  means,  at  all 
times,  in  all  places.  For  that  thou  hast  sheltered,  assisted,  supported,  and 
led  us  on  through  the  time  past  of  our  life,  and  brought  us  to  this  hour. 
And  we  pray  and  beseech  thee,  O  God  and  loving  Lord,  grant  us  to  pass 
this  day,  this  year,  and  all  the  time  of  our  life  without  sin,  with  all  joy, 
health,  and  salvation.  But  all  envy,  all  fear,  all  temptation,  all  the  work¬ 
ing  of  Satan,  do  thou  drive  away,  O  God,  from  us,  and  from  thy  holy 
church.  Supply  us  with  things  good  and  profitable.  Whereinsoever  we  have 
sinned  against  thee,  in  word,  or  deed,  or  thought,  be  thou  pleased  in  thy 
love  and  goodness  to  forgive,  and  forsake  us  not,  O  God,  who  hope  in  thee, 
neither  lead  us  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  the  evil  one  and  from 
his  works;  by  the  grace  and  compassion  of  thine  only  begotten  Son,  Jesus 
Christ.”  Amen. — Liturgy  of  Saint  Mark  (1751). 

366 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


paint  &tm&ag 

fDt  tj)C  ^a^t  “Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord; 

Hosanna  in  the  highest.” — Matthew  21.  9. 

2U£Son  fot  tfjc  iSDap:  John  12.  12-17. 

12  On  the  morrow  a  great  multitude  that  had  come  to  the 
feast,  when  they  heard  that  Jesus  was  coming  to  Jerusalem,  13  took 
the  branches  of  the  palm  trees,  and  went  forth  to  meet  him,  and 
cried  out,  Hosanna:  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  even  the  King  of  Israel.  14  And  Jesus,  having  found  a  young 
ass,  sat  thereon;  as  it  is  written,  15  Fear  not,  daughter  of  Zion: 
behold,  thy  King  cometh,  sitting  on  an  ass’s  colt.  16  These  things 
understood  not  his  disciples  at  the  first:  but  when  Jesus  was  glori¬ 
fied,  then  remembered  they  that  these  things  were  written  of  him, 
and  that  they  had  done  these  things  unto  him.  17  The  multitude 
therefore  that  was  with  him  when  he  called  Lazarus  out  of  the 
tomb,  and  raised  him  from  the  dead,  bare  witness. 

“As  on  this  day  we  keep  the  special  memory  of  our  Redeemer’s  entry  into  the  city, 
so  grant,  0  Lord,  that  now  and  ever  he  may  triumph  in  our  hearts.  Let  the  King  of 
grace  and  glory  enter  in,  and  let  us  lay  ourselves  and  all  we  are  in  full  and  joyful  homage 
before  him.” — II.  G.  C.  Moule. 

“Joy  to  the  world!  the  Lord  is  come; 

Let  earth  receive  her  King; 

Let  every  heart  prepare  him  room, 

And  heaven  and  nature  sing. 

“Joy  to  the  world!  the  Saviour  reigns; 

Let  men  their  songs  employ; 

While  fields  and  floods,  rocks,  hills,  and  plains 
Repeat  the  sounding  joy. 

“He  rules  the  world  with  truth  and  grace, 

And  makes  the  nations  prove 
The  glories  of  his  righteousness, 

And  wonders  of  his  love.”  — Isaac  Watts. 

Ptagcr  for  tfjt  O  our  Lord,  we  would  join  in  the  acclaim  of 

those  who  went  forth  in  the  olden  time  to  meet  thee  with  joyful  cries  of 
“Hosanna:  blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.”  With  all 
our  hearts  would  we  rejoice  in  thee.  We  worship  thee  for  thy  majesty  and 
thy  meekness,  for  thy  love  and  thy  pity,  for  thy  sacrificial  death  and  thy 
victorious  resurrection.  May  none  of  us  withhold  from  thee  a  welcome  to 
our  hearts.  Come  as  our  Lord  and  Master  and  reign  over  us  in  righteous¬ 
ness  and  in  love.  Come  unto  us  with  thy  spirit  of  compassion  and  may  our 
minds  and  hearts  be  filled  with  thy  love.  Forgive  us  for  our  want  of  com¬ 
passion  in  the  past,  for  our  cold  hearts  and  our  indifference  to  the  woes  of 
men.  Make  us  this  day  and  through  all  days  to  come  more  kind  and  tender 
and  sympathetic  and  helpful.  Even  as  thou  our  Lord  and  King  didst  give 
thyself  for  us  may  it  be  our  joy  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  thy  service.  For 
thy  names  sake.  Amen. 


367 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


W&z  2Dag  ot  CruciftBan 

fOE  tf)t  £Dil#t  “For  I  determined  not  to  know  anything  among 
you,  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified.” — i  Corinthians  2.  2. 

2U$»£on  for  tjjeSDap:  Mark  15.  22-32. 

22  And  they  bring  him  unto  the  place  Golgotha,  which  is, 
being  interpreted,  The  place  of  a  skull.  23  And  they  offered  him 
wine  mingled  with  myrrh:  but  he  received  it  not.  24  And  they 
crucify  him,  and  part  his  garments  among  them,  casting  lots  upon 
them,  what  each  should  take.  25  And  it  was  the  third  hour,  and 
they  crucified  him.  26  And  the  superscription  of  his  accusation 
was  written  over,  THE  KING  OF  THE  JEWS.  27  And  with  him  they 
crucify  two  robbers;  one  on  his  right  hand,  and  one  on  his  left. 
29  And  they  that  passed  by  railed  on  him,  wagging  their  heads, 
and  saying,  Ha!  thou  that  destroyest  the  temple,  and  buildest  it 
in  three  days,  30  save  thyself,  and  come  down  from  the  cross.  31  In 
like  manner  also  the  chief  priests  mocking  him  among  themselves 
with  the  scribes  said,  He  saved  others;  himself  he  cannot  save. 
32  Let  the  Christ,  the  King  of  Israel,  now  come  down  from  the 
cross,  that  we  may  see  and  believe.  And  they  that  were  crucified 
with  him  reproached  him. 


“There  is  a  green  hill  far  away, 

Without  a  city  wall, 

Where  the  dear  Lord  was  crucified, 

Who  died  to  save  us  all. 

“We  may  not  know,  we  cannot  tell, 

What  pains  he  had  to  bear; 

But  we  believe  it  was  for  us, 

He  hung  and  suffered  there.  — Cecil  F.  Alexander. 

“The  way  to  the  kingdom  of  God  always  has  been  and  always  will  be  a  via  dolorosa. 
The  cross  is  not  accidental;  it  is  a  law  of  social  progress.'' — Walter  Rauschenbusch. 

“Are  we  willing  to  give  ourselves  entirely  to  God,  to  let  him  do  with  us  whatever 
he  pleases,  to  follow  anywhere  at  his  bidding,  to  renounce  anything  at  his  call,  asking 
only,  in  return,  that  he  will  give  us  himself,  with  all  his  infinite  love,  to  be  ours  from 
this  time  forever?  If  we  are  thus  willing,  let  us  kneel  down  this  moment  and  tell  him 
so.  Alone  with  God,  let  us  give  him  ourselves,  all  we  have  and  are  and  shall  be,  to  be 
unreservedly  his.”  —  William  R.  Huntington. 


I^EftptE  fOE  tf)E  SDft#;  “Almighty  Father,  who  of  thy  tender  love  toward 
mankind  hast  given  thine  only  Son  to  suffer  death  upon  the  cross  for  our 
salvation,  grant  that  we  may  always  remember  the  exceeding  great  love 
of  our  Master  and  Saviour  thus  dying  for  us.  Give  us  true  repentance  for 
all  our  sins,  and  a  living  faith  in  our  Redeemer.  For  his  sake  forgive  us  all 
that  is  past.  Grant  us  grace  to  forsake  sin,  to  deny  ourselves,  and  to  take 
up  our  cross  daily.  Enable  us  so  to  follow  the  blessed  steps  of  our  Saviour’s 
most  holy  life  that  we  may  finally  come  to  thy  everlasting  kingdom  through 
the  merits  and  mediation  of  thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
A.  F.  Thornhill. 


368 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


< fca&itt  femnba# 

fOt  tj)t  “But  thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory 

through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.” — I  Corinthians  15.  57. 

£e££0it  tot  2Dap:  Mark  16.  9-15. 

9  Now  when  he  was  risen  early  on  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Magdalene,  from  whom  he  had  cast 
out  seven  demons.  10  She  went  and  told  them  that  had  been  with 
him,  as  they  mourned  and  wept,  n  And  they,  when  they  heard 
that  he  was  alive,  and  had  been  seen  of  her,  disbelieved. 

12  And  after  these  things  he  was  manifested  in  another  form 
unto  two  of  them,  as  they  walked,  on  their  way  into  the  country. 
13  And  they  went  away  and  told  it  unto  the  rest:  neither  believed 
they  them. 

14  And  afterward  he  was  manifested  unto  the  eleven  them¬ 
selves  as  they  sat  at  meat;  and  he  upbraided  them  with  their  un¬ 
belief  and  hardness  of  heart,  because  they  believed  not  them  that 
had  seen  him  after  he  was  risen.  15  And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye 
into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  the  whole  creation. 


“  ’Tis  the  day  of  resurrection! 

Earth,  tell  it  out  abroad! 

The  Passover  of  gladness, 

The  Passover  of  God! 

From  death  to  life  eternal, 

From  earth  unto  the  sky, 

Our  Christ  hath  brought  us  over, 

With  hymns  of  victory. 

“Now  let  the  heavens  be  joyful! 

Let  earth  her  song  begin! 

Let  the  round  world  keep  triumph. 

And  all  that  is  therein! 

In  grateful  exultation 

Their  notes  let  all  things  blend; 

.  For  Christ  the  Lord  hath  risen, 

Our  joy  that  hath  no  end.”  — John  of  Damascus. 

“Come,  take  that  task  of  yours  which  you  have  been  hesitating  before,  and  shirk¬ 
ing  and  walking  around,  and  on  this  Easter  Day  lift  it  up  and  do  it.  .  .  .  If  the  city  of 
our  heart  is  holy  with  the  presence  of  a  living  Christ,  then  the  dear  dead  will  come  to 
us,  and  we  shall  know  that  they  are  not  dead  but  living — and  press  on  joyously  toward 
our  own  redemption,  not  fearing  even  the  grave,  since  by  its  side  stands  He  whom  we 
know  and  love,  who  has  the  keys  of  death  and  hell.” — Phillips  Brooks. 

(0t  tf)£  “O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  on  this  day  didst  rise 

again,  raise  up  our  souls  unto  newness  of  life,  granting  us  repentance  from 
dead  works,  and  planting  us  in  the  likeness  of  thy  resurrection.  O  thou 
who  didst  also  send  down  on  thy  apostles  thy  most  Holy  Spirit,  take  not 
the  same  Spirit  away  from  us,  but  grant  to  all  thy  servants  that  they  may  be 
daily  renewed  and  more  plentifully  enriched  in  the  same,  for  thine  own  mer¬ 
cies’  sake;  who  livest  and  reignest  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  ever 
one  God,  world  without  end.”  Amen. — Bishop  Andrewes  (1555-1626). 

369 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


Habot  Soap 


Wti$t  for  t$e  SDap: 


“For  thou  shalt  eat  the  labor  of  thy  hands: 

Happy  shalt  thou  be,  and  it  shall  be  well  with 
thee.” 

— Psalm  128.  2. 


Mark  6.  1-4. 


1  And  he  went  out  from  thence;  and  he  cometh  into  his  own 
country;  and  his  disciples  follow  him.  2  And  when  the  sabbath 
was  come,  he  began  to  teach  in  the  synagogue:  and  many  hearing 
him  were  astonished,  saying,  Whence  hath  this  man  these  things? 
and,  What  is  the  wisdom  that  is  given  unto  this  man,  and  what 
mean  such  mighty  works  wrought  by  his  hands?  3  Is  not  this  the 
carpenter,  the  son  of  Mary,  and  brother  of  James,  and  Joses,  and 
Judas,  and  Simon?  and  are  not  his  sisters  here  with  us?  And  they 
were  offended  in  him.  4  And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  A  prophet  is 
not  without  honor,  save  in  his  own  country,  and  among  his  own 
kin,  and  in  his  own  house. 


‘Let  the  children  of  labor  remember  that  they  are  of  the  class  which  he  of  Nazareth 
dignified;  that,  perad venture,  in  his  youthful  days  of  mechanic  toil,  he  too  was  looked 
down  upon  by  the  coarse  eye  of  sheer  power — and  yet  he  nurtured,  amid  indignities  and 
neglect,  the  spirit  that  made  him  divinely  wise.” — James  Martineau. 

“The  world  moves  along,  not  only  by  the  gigantic  shovels  of  its  hero  workers,  but 
by  the  aggregate  tiny  pushes  of  every  honest  toiler.” — J.  R.  Green. 

“No  man  is  born  into  the  world,  whose  work 
Is  not  born  with  him.  There  is  always  work 
And  tools  to  work  withal,  for  those  who  will: 

And  blessed  are  the  horny  hands  of  toil.” 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 

Pta^tt  (Ot  lIDajU  “Our  Father,  we  thank  thee  that  our  Lord  toiled 
as  a  carpenter  among  men.  No  man  among  us,  no  matter  how  hard  and 
exhausting  his  daily  toil,  but  what  may  feel  that  he  enters  into  fellow¬ 
ship  with  Christ  in  labor.  We  thank  thee  that  because  of  the  example  and 
the  teaching  of  Christ  the  lot  of  the  toilers  of  earth  is  made  more  bearable, 
their  heavy  burdens  somewhat  lightened  and  their  labors  more  adequately 
rewarded.  We  realize  that  even  in  our  own  Christian  land  we  have  yet 
very  far  to  go  before  full  and  complete  justice  is  enjoyed  by  all,  oppression 
done  away,  and  the  fruits  of  labor  equitably  distributed  among  men.  Give 
to  thy  church  greater  earnestness  and  increased  wisdom  in  leading  the  way 
toward  that  great  goal.  We  pray  that  the  day  may  not  be  long  delayed  when 
in  the  homes  of  all  who  toil  may  be  found  those  necessities  and  comforts 
which  make  for  the  larger,  more  abundant  life.  May  all  laborers,  their 
wives  and  children,  have  the  fullest  opportunity  for  the  development  and 
enrichment  of  body,  mind,  and  soul,  even  that  more  abundant  life  which 
Jesus  came  to  give  to  men.  For  his  name’s  sake.”  Amen. 


370 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


fttmtgtice  $Dap 

$Ct£»C  fOC  tfje  SDftJN  “In  this  place  will  I  give  peace,  saith  Jehovah  of 

hosts.” — Haggai  2.  9. 

£t££on  foe  tfje  SDap:  Isaiah  2.  2-4. 

2  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  latter  days,  that  the  moun¬ 
tain  of  Jehovah’s  house  shall  be  established  on  the  top  of  the  moun¬ 
tains,  and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills;  and  all  nations  shall 
flow  unto  it.  3  And  many  peoples  shall  go  and  say,  Come  ye,  and 
let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  Jehovah,  to  the  house  of  the  God 
of  Jacob;  and  he  will  teach  us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in 
his  paths:  for  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of 
Jehovah  from  Jerusalem.  4  And  he  will  judge  between  the  nations, 
and  will  decide  concerning  many  peoples;  and  they  shall  beat  their 
svvords  into  plowshares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning-hooks :  nation 
shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn 
war  any  more. 

“It  seemed  as  I  woke  on  the  morning  of  November  nth  that  hell  itself  had  broken 
its  bounds  and  invaded  this  land.  Used  as  I  had  become  to  the  noise  of  battle,  still  the 
pandemonium  of  that  morning  seemed  terrific  as  the  big  guns  hurled  forth  their  charges 
of  death  and  destruction  with  ceaseless  roar,  as  the  giant  shells  passed  screaming  over¬ 
head  and  burst  with  thundering  crashes,  and  as  the  many  fleets  of  airplanes  with  un¬ 
muffled  engines  circled  about  before  heading  for  enemy  territory.  The  air  we  breathed 
seemed  to  be  charged  with  a  sense  of  impending  events — but  what? 

“Suddenly,  with  an  abruptness  far  more  startling  than  seems  possible,  all  noise 
ceased.  The  terrible  guns  became  mute,  the  screaming  shells  flew  no  more  nor  burst 
with  their  terrific  thundering.  Everything  became  hushed  and  still,  and  nature  herself 
stopped  breathing  and  seemed  to  say  ‘What  next?’  But  soon  came  stealing  up  the 
valley  the  sound  of  a  church  bell,  then  another,  and  another,  till  from  all  directions  came 
the  sweet  tones  of  church  bells  that  had  been  silent  as  the  grave  for  four  long  years. 
Such  a  heaven-born  sweetness  I  have  never  heard  before,  and  its  effects  upon  me  as  I 
stood  there  with  bared  head  seemed  to  touch  the  bottommost  depths  of  my  soul.  ‘Peace 
on  earth,  good  will  to  men,’  I  muttered,  instinctively.  Truly,  I  must  be  viewing  the 
birth  of  a  new  world.” — An  American  Soldier  writing  from  France. 

Ptaptt  tot  tjt  i5Dag:  O  Lord,  our  God,  our  hearts  are  filled  with  grati¬ 
tude  in  memory  of  thy  great  goodness.  Thou  makest  wars  to  cease  unto 
the  end  of  the  earth ;  thou  breakest  the  bow,  and  cutteth  the  spear  in 
sunder;  thou  burnest  the  chariots  in  the  fire.  Thou  hast  blessed  thy  people 
with  peace ;  to  thee  do  we  return  thanks.  Through  the  sins  and  errors  of 
men  the  nations  were  brought  near  to  destruction,  but  thou  didst  lay  bare 
thy  arm;  thou  didst  save  thy  people.  Teach  us,  O  God,  of  thy  ways,  and 
may  the  nations  walk  from  this  day  forth  in  thy  paths.  Our  hearts  are 
burdened,  O  Lord,  as  we  remember  those  of  our  countrymen  fallen  in 
battle,  whose  bodies  lie  buried  in  foreign  soil.  Make  us  more  worthy  of 
their  sacrifice.  Comfort  the  hearts  of  their  relatives  and  friends  and  grant 
unto  the  stricken  homes  in  our  own  and  in  all  lands  the  consolation  of  thy 
grace.  May  righteousness  and  justice  be  established  in  all  the  earth  and 
Ums  may  the  time  soon  come  when  nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against 
nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more.  In  the  name  of  thy  Son,  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  we  ask  it.  Amen. 


37 1 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


^ganftggttunfl;  2Dap 

P£tjSi£  fOE  ti)t  SDa^t  “Enter  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving, 

And  into  his  courts  with  praise.” 

— Psalm  ioo.  4. 

%t$&on  tot  t&eSDap:  I  Chronicles  16.  7—12. 

7  Then  on  that  day  did  David  first  ordain  to  give  thanks  unto 
Jehovah,  by  the  hand  of  Asaph  and  his  brethren. 

8  O  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah,  call  upon  his  name; 

Make  known  his  doings  among  the  peoples. 

9  Sing  unto  him,  sing  praises  unto  him; 

Talk  ye  of  all  his  marvelous  works. 

10  Glory  ye  in  his  holy  name; 

Let  the  heart  of  them  rejoice  that  seek  Jehovah. 

11  Seek  ye  Jehovah  and  his  strength; 

Seek  his  face  evermore. 

12  Remember  his  marvelous  works  that  he  hath  done, 

His  wonders,  and  the  judgments  of  his  mouth. 


“My  God,  I  thank  thee  who  hast  made 
The  earth  so  bright; 

So  full  of  splendor  and  of  joy, 

Beauty  and  light; 

So  many  glorious  things  are  here, 

Noble  and  right. 

“I  thank  thee  too  that  thou  hast  made 
Joy  to  abound; 

So  many  gentle  thoughts  and  deeds 
Circling  us  round; 

That  in  the  darkest  spot  of  earth 
Some  love  is  found. 

“I  thank  thee,  Lord,  that  thou  hast  kept 
The  best  in  store; 

We  have  enough,  yet  not  too  much, 

To  long  for  more; 

A  yearning  for  a  deeper  peace 

Not  known  before.”  — Adelaide  Ann  Procter. 


(Ot  tf)E  “Almighty  God,  Father  of  all  mercies,  we,  thine 

unworthy  servants,  do  give  thee  most  humble  and  hearty  thanks  for  all  thy 
goodness  and  loving-kindness  to  us  and  to  all  men.  We  bless  thee  for  our 
creation,  preservation,  and  all  the  blessings  of  this  life,  but  above  all  for 
thine  inestimable  love  in  the  redemption  of  the  world  by  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  for  the  means  of  grace,  and  for  the  hope  of  glory.  And,  we  be¬ 
seech  thee,  give  us  that  due  sense  of  all  thy  mercies,  that  our  hearts  may 
be  unfeignedly  thankful,  and  that  we  may  show  forth  thy  praise,  not  only 
with  our  lips,  but  in  our  lives;  by  giving  up  ourselves  to  thy  service  and  by 
walking  before  thee  in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  our  days,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  to  whom  with  thee  and  the  Holy  Ghost  be  all  honor” 
and  glory,  world  without  end.”  Amen. — Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

372 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


CJjMiStmajS 

DetsSr  (oc  tfie  ffi>ag:  “  Behold,  I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy 
which  shall  be  to  all  the  people:  for  there  is  born  to  you  this  day  in  the 
city  of  David  a  Saviour,  who  is  Christ  the  Lord.” — Luke  2.  io,  n. 

}Lt&&on  for  tfje  SDap:  Matthew  2.  1,  2,  9-1 1. 

1  Now  when  Jesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judaea  in  the 
days  of  Herod  the  king,  behold,  wise  men  from  the  east  came  to 
Jerusalem,  saying,  2  Where  is  he  that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews?  for 
we  saw  his  star  in  the  east  and  are  come  to  worship  him.  9  And 
they,  having  heard  the  king,  went  their  way;  and  lo,  the  star,  which 
they  saw  in  the  east,  went  before  them,  till  it  came  and  stood  over 
where  the  young  child  was.  10  And  when  they  saw  the  star,  they 
rejoiced  with  exceeding  great  joy.  11  And  they  came  into  the 
house  and  saw  the  young  child  with  Mary  his  mother;  and  they 
fell  down  and  worshiped  him;  and  opening  their  treasures  they 
offered  unto  him  gifts,  gold  and  frankincense  and  myrrh. 

“Listen,  my  soul!  ’tis  the  twilight  of  morning; 

The  veil  of  the  shadows  still  mantles  the  hills; 

The  flocks  are  reposing,  the  shepherds  are  dozing — 

What  melody  ripples  like  silvery  rills? 

“There’s  a  light  in  the  sky  that  is  whiter  than  morning, 

A  thrill  in  the  air  that  awakes  them  that  dream; 

The  angels  are  singing,  all  heaven  is  ringing; 

Glory  and  peace  and  good-will  are  their  theme. 

“There’s  a  Babe  in  the  manger — what  radiance  robes  him! 

The  Son  of  the  highest  to  earth  condescends; 

The  long  hopes  of  ages  have  marked  history’s  pages; 

Now  all  are  fulfilled  by  the  Babe  that  God  sends. 

“Listen,  my  soul!  this  is  thy  Christmas  morning; 

For  thee  are  the  angels,  the  song,  and  the  birth; 

Has  it  been  thy  true  pleasure  to  bring  him  thy  treasure? 

Art  thou  filled  with  the  rapture  that  hallows  the  earth?” 

— Edward  S.  Lewis. 

Pcagtrt  fot  tfjr  Soap:  “  O  Almighty  Lord,  who  hast  humbled  thyself  to 
become  a  child  with  children,  a  man  with  men,  we  bless  thee  for  thy  gracious 
nearness  to  us,  thy  perfect  fellowship  with  us.  We  praise  thee  because  thou 
hast  shared  our  human  nature  and  borne  our  griefs  and  tasted  our  death,  and 
taken  our  sins  away.  Grant  us,  O  Lord,  the  grace  and  peace  of  this  day’s 
glad  tidings.  Breathe  in  us  thy  pure  and  lowly  spirit,  that  we  may  be  born 
anew  into  thy  likeness.  Unstop  our  ears,  to  hear  the  angels’  anthem  above 
the  wailing  of  this  troubled  world.  O  Lover  of  souls,  gather  thou  the 
lonely,  the  sorrowful,  the  prodigals,  into  thine  everlasting  arms  to-day.  O 
God  of  fathers  and  mothers  and  little  children,  bless  every  home  on  earth 
with  fullness  of  joy.  In  thy  mercy,  forgive  us  all  our  sins,  and  sweeten  our 
thoughts  to  forgive  every  one  who  has  sinned  against  us,  that  we  may  keep 
the  feast  with  gladness  and  singleness  of  heart,  at  peace  with  thee,  and  with  all 
men.  Through  Jesus  Christ,  the  Saviour  of  the  world.”  Amen. 

373 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


mm  ot  a  csnti 

tot  fyt  2Dap:  “  For  this  child  I  prayed;  and  Jehovah  hath  given 
me  my  petition  which  I  asked  of  him.” — i  Samuel  i.  27. 

JLt$$on  (ot  tfjetmp:  Luke  18.  15—17. 

15  And  they  were  bringing  unto  him  also  their  babes,  that  he 
should  touch  them:  but  when  the  disciples  saw  it,  they  rebuked 
them.  16  But  Jesus  called  them  unto  him,  saying,  Suffer  the  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not:  for  to  such  be- 
longeth  the  kingdom  of  God.  17  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever 
shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  in 
no  wise  enter  therein. 

“If  our  ears  were  less  dull  and  were  not  drummed  into  unresponsiveness  by  the 
noise  of  the  life  material,  the  father  and  the  mother  in  any  home  might  in  the  hour  of 
their  great  joy  hear  the  same  august  message  from  on  high  that  came  to  Zacharias  of 
old:  ‘I  am  Gabriel  that  stand  in  the  presence  of  God.  I  am  sent  to  speak  unto  thee 
and  shew  thee  these  glad  tidings.’  And  if  the  initial  responsibility  of  parentage  were 
accepted  in  that  high  mood  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  divine  cooperation  for  the 
nurture  of  the  newborn  child,  there  would  be  less  heartache  in  store  for  the  parents  in 
the  years  that  lie  ahead.  Their  ears  might  also  hear  the  assuring  words,  ‘Thou  shalt 
have  joy  and  gladness  and  many  shall  rejoice  at  his  birth.’  ” — Charles  Reynolds  Brown. 


“By  his  entrance  into  human  life  through  the  gate  of  birth  Jesus  made  himself  the 
Prophet  of  Childhood,  and  thus  in  the  highest  sense  the  prophet  of  universal  humanity. 
No  one  may  think  meanly  hereafter  of  a  child  because  of  its  frailty  and  helplessness, 
for  the  omniscience  and  omnipresence  and  the  omnipotence  of  God  lay  latent  in  the 
Child  of  Bethlehem.  And  so  Christ  prophesies  over  every  cradle,  and  is  forever 
lifting  up  the  babes  of  the  world  and  saying,  ‘They  are  little,  and  weak,  and  know 
nothing  at  all;  but  they  shall  grow  into  the  wisdom  and  strength  of  archangels,  and 
their  heads  shall  be  among  the  stars.’  ” — John  T.  McFarland. 


(Ot  tl )t  “O  Lord  God,  in  whose  hands  are  the  issues  of 

life,  we  thank  thee  for  thy  gifts  to  us  at  this  time.  We  thank  thee 
for  the  life  given  and  the  life  preserved.  And  as  thou  hast  knit  to¬ 
gether  life  and  love  in  one  fellowship,  so  we  pray  thee  to  grant  that 
with  this  fresh  gift  of  life  to  us,  there  may  be  given  an  increase  of  love  one 
to  another.  Grant  that  the  presence  of  weakness  may  awaken  our  tender¬ 
ness,  enable  us  to  minister  to  the  little  one  that  has  been  given  to  us  in 
all  lovingness,  wisdom,  and  fidelity;  and  grant  that  [he]  may  live  as  thy 
child,  and  may  serve  this  generation  according  to  thy  will;  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — William  Boyd  Carpenter  (b.  1868). 


374 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


Ina  <1 Unit  of  £>icKne££> 

4 

f?£t£i0  fOt  tljf  SDflJG  “And  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  him  that  is 
sick,  and  the  Lord  shall  raise  hifn  up.” — James  5.,  15. 

for  tSe  SDap:  Matthew  4.  23-25. 

23  And  Jesus  went  about  in  all  Galilee,  teaching  in  their  syn¬ 
agogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  all 
manner  of  disease  and  all  manner  of  sickness  among  the  people. 
24  And  the  report  of  him  went  forth  into  all  Syria:  and  they 
brought  unto  him  all  that  were  sick,  holden  with  divers  diseases 
and  torments,  possessed  with  demons,  and  epileptic,  and  palsied; 
and  he  healed  them.  25  And  there  followed  him  great  multitudes 
from  Galilee  and  Decapolis  and  Jerusalem  and  Judaea  and  from 
beyond  the  Jordan. 

“Thine  arm,  O  Lord,  in  days  of  old 
Was  strong  to  heal  and  save; 

It  triumphed  o’er  disease  and  death, 

O’er  darkness  and  the  grave. 

To  thee  they  went — the  blind,  the  dumb, 

The  palsied  and  the  lame, 

The  leper  with  his  tainted  life, 

The  sick  with  fevered  frame. 

And  lo,  thy  touch  brought  life  and  health, 

Gave  speech  and  strength  and  sight, 

And,  youth  renewed,  and  frenzy  calmed, 

Owned  thee,  the  Lord  of  light. 

And  now,  O  Lord,  be  near  to  bless, 

Almighty  as  of  yore, 

In  crowded  street,  by  restless  couch, 

As  by  Gennesaret’s  shore.”  — Edward  If.  Plum. 


ptapet  for  tj )t  SDap:  O  thou  God  of  all  compassion,  who  art  a  very 
present  help  in  trouble,  we  come  unto  thee  in  this  season  of  anxiety.  In 
thee,  O  Lord,  do  we  hope;  thou  wilt  hear  us,  O  Lord  our  God.  We 
lift  up  our  hearts  together  to  plead  with  thee  on  behalf  of  that  beloved 
member  of  our  family  who  is  ill.  Blessed  Lord,  we  remember  what  thou 
didst  for  those  who  brought  to  thee  the  sick  of  the  palsy;  how  thou  saidst, 
“Son,  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee,”  and  didst  then  command  him  to  arise  and 
walk.  O,  do  the  same,  we  humbly  pray  thee,  for  us.  Give  to  thy  sick  servant 
the  blessed  assurance  of  thy  pardoning  love;  and  raise  [him]  up  to  health 
and  strength,  that  [he]  may  live  to  thee,  and  be  an  instrument  of  thy  glory, 
by  serving  thee  faithfully  and  doing  good  in  his  generation.  O  Lord,  we 
desire  from  the  heart,  that  “Thy  will  be  done.”  We  know  that  it  is 
appointed  to  all  men  once  to  die  and  that  Jesus  has  taken  away  the  sting 
of  death  and  made  it  to  his  people  the  pathway  to  immortality.  Oh,  if  it  be 
thy  will  to  call  our  beloved  one  hence,  prepare  [him]  for  the  great  day. 
Renew  [him]  by  thy  Spirit.  May  [he]  be  found  in  Christ,  not  having  his 
own  righteousness,  but  that  which  is  by  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ.  Teach  us 
all  to  so  number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  to  wisdom.  Hear 
us,  we  pray  thee,  and  answer  us,  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.  Amen. 

375 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


ftOfjen  ^Departing  on  a  bourne# 

fOt  2D9^:  “My  presence  shall  go  with  thee  ” — Exodus  33.  14. 

t 

tot  tfjt  &>ap:  Psalm  12 1.  I,  2,  5-8. 

1  I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  mountains: 

From  whence  shall  my  help  come? 

2  My  help  cometh  from  Jehovah, 

Who  made  heaven  and  earth. 

•  •••••*•••#*§ 

5  Jehovah  is  thy  keeper: 

Jehovah  is  thy  shade  upon  thy  right  hand. 

6  The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by  day, 

Nor  the  moon  by  night. 

7  Jehovah  will  keep  thee  from  all  evil; 

He  will  keep  thy  soul. 

8  Jehovah  will  keep  thy  going  out  and  thy  coming  in 
From  this  time  forth  and  for  evermore. 


“He  leadeth  me!  oh,  blessed  thought! 

Oh,  words  with  heavenly  comfort  fraught! 

Whate’er  I  do,  where’er  I  be, 

Still  ’tis  God’s  hand  that  leadeth  me.”  — Joseph  H.  Gilmore. 


“I  know  not  what  the  future  hath 
Of  marvel  or  surprise, 

Assured  alone  that  life  and  death 
His  mercy  underlies. 

“I  know  not  where  his  islands  lift 
Their  fronded  palms  in  air; 

I  only  know  I  cannot  drift 

Beyond  his  love  and  care.”  — John  G.  Whittier. 


fOt  O  God,  most  holy  and  blessed,  we  lift  up  our 

hearts  to  thee.  In  thee  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being.  We  know 
not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth,  and  we  cannot  go  out  or  come  in  without 
thy  gracious  help.  Especially  this  day  would  we  commend  to  thy  care  and 
protection  that  member  of  our  family  who  is  about  to  leave  us  for  a  time. 
Grant  thy  merciful  protection  and  presence  to  [him],  O  Lord,  during  the 
journey  upon  which  [he]  is  about  to  enter.  Let  no  evil  befall  [him]. 
May  [he]  be  preserved  in  peace  of  mind,  and  in  health  and  safety  of  body, 
and  feel  that  thou  art  with  [him]  continually.  We  thank  thee  for  the  privi¬ 
lege  of  prayer,  and  that  we  can  pray  for  one  another,  though  separated ;  for 
thou  art  in  every  place,  and  hearest  the  prayers  of  thy  people  when  they 
make  intercession  for  their  brethren  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  And  grant,  O 
God,  that  we  may  all  be  preserved  safely  through  the  whole  journey  of  life, 
that  we  may  walk  in  the  narrow  path  that  leads  to  everlasting  life,  and  that, 
finally,  we  may  meet  in  heaven,  a  redeemed  family,  where  we  shall  see  the 
Lord,  and  our  joy  shall  be  full.  All  this  we  humbly  but  fervently  ask  in 
the  name  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 

376 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


a  SDcatjj  tn  tfje  I^onte 

Wet&t  tot  tje  2Dag:  “  Our  friend  Lazarus  is  fallen  asleep;  but  I  go, 
that  1  may  awake  him  out  of  sleep” — John  n.  n. 

Easton  tor  tljtSDag:  John  u.  20-27. 

20  Martha  therefore,  when  she  heard  that  Jesus  was  coming, 
went  and  met  him:  but  Mary  still  sat  in  the  house.  21  Martha 
therefore  said  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here,  my  brother 
had  not  died.  22  And  even  now  I  know  that,  whatsoever  thou 
shalt  ask  of  God,  God  will  give  thee.  23  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Thy 
brother  shall  rise  again.  24  Martha  saith  unto  him,  I  know  that 
he  shall  rise  again  in  the  resurrection  at  the  last  day.  25  Jesus 
said  unto  her,  I  am  the  resurection,  and  the  life:  he  that  believeth 
on  me,  though  he  die,  yet  shall  he  live ;  26  and  whosoever  liveth 
and  believeth  on  me  shall  never  die.  Believest  thou  this?  27  She 
saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord:  I  have  believed  that  thou  art  the  Christ 
the  Son  of  God,  even  he  that  cometh  into  the  world. 


“With  silence  only  as  their  benediction, 

God’s  angels  come 

Where,  in  the  shadow  of  a  great  affliction, 

The  soul  sits  dumb. 

Yet  would  I  say  what  thy  own  heart  approveth: 

Our  Father’s  will, 

Calling  to  him  the  dear  one  whom  he  loveth, 

Is  mercy  still. 

Not  upon  thee  or  thine  the  solemn  angel 
Hath  evil  wrought: 

Her  funeral  anthem  is  a  glad  evangel — 

The  good  die  not.” 

— J.  G.  Whittier. 

“If  Christ  had  done  nothing  more  for  humanity  than  give  it  this  word  sleep  in  place 
of  death,  he  would  have  been  the  greatest  of  benefactors.  He  taught  new  truth  about 
death,  or  that  it  is  not  what  it  seems.  It  is  to  life  what  sleep  is  to  the  day.  Sleep 
rests  and  restores  the  body  to  a  fuller  and  fresher  life.  Christ  would  not  have  called 
death  sleep  merely  because  of  its  external  likeness;  his  thought  struck  deeper  than  that; 
he  meant  that  death  does  for  us  what  sleep  does  for  the  body;  repairs,  invigorates,  and 
repeats  for  us  the  morning  of  life.” — T.  T.  Munger. 

prayer  tot  tge  2Day:  “  O  merciful  Father,  who  in  thy  perfect  wisdom 
and  love  hast  taken  our  dear  one,  we  humbly  leave  [him]  in  thy  gracious 
keeping.  Thou  knowest  all  things.  Thou  hast  ordered  all  for  our  truest 
good.  In  our  sorrow  we  cast  ourselves  upon  thy  pity.  Comfort  us  in  our 
sorrow  and  weakness  by  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Teach  us  to  know  the  shortness 
and  uncertainty  of  life.  Give  us  true  repentance.  Help  us  to  look  to  the 
cross  of  Christ  that  all  our  sins  may  be  forgiven  for  his  sake.  Grant  us 
by  thy  Holy  Spirit  so  to  serve  thee  in  this  world,  that  when  we  are  called 
away,  wre  may,  with  those  whom  we  love,  ever  dw^ell  with  thee  in  thy 
heavenly  kingdom,  through  the  mercy  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  Amen. — 
A.  F.  Thornhill. 


377 


SPECIAL  DAYS 


Sfot  Zlny  ^untmg 

Wn&t  for  tf\c  SDap:  ‘  ‘And  lie  said  unto  them,  The  sabbath  was  made 
for  man,  and  not  man  for  the  sabbath.” — Alark  2.  27. 

Heston  tot  tfjc  2Dap;  Isaiah  56.  I,  2,  6,  7. 

1  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Keep  ye  justice,  and  do  righteousness; 
for  my  salvation  is  near  to  come,  and  my  righteousness  to  be  re¬ 
vealed.  2  Blessed  is  the  man  that  doeth  this,  and  the  son  of  man 
that  holdeth  it  fast;  that  keepeth  the  sabbath  from  profaning  it, 
and  keepeth  his  hand  from  doing  any  evil. 

6  Also  the  foreigners  that  join  themselves  to  Jehovah,  to 
minister  unto  him,  and  to  love  the  name  of  Jehovah,  to  be  his 
servants,  every  one  that  keepeth  the  sabbath  from  profaning  it,  and 
holdeth  fast  my  covenant;  7  even  them  will  I  bring  to  my  holy 
mountain,  and  make  them  joyful  in  my  house  of  prayer:  their 
burnt-offerings  and  their  sacrifices  shall  be  accepted  upon  mine 
altar;  for  my  house  shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer  for  all  peoples. 

“Having  an  almighty  and  most  loving  Father,  in  whom  we  live,  and  move,  and 
have  our  being,  let  us  rejoice  in  him.  Having  a  most  loving  Saviour,  who  has  made 
himself  our  Brother,  and  feeds  us  with  his  life,  we  ought  surely  to  rejoice  in  him.  Hav¬ 
ing  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  with  us,  making  us  his  temples,  and  pouring  his  love  into 
our  hearts,  we  ought  certainly  to  answer  his  love,  and  rejoice  in  his  overflowing  good¬ 
ness.  ‘Rejoice  in  the  Lord  alvvay,  and  again  I  say,  Rejoice.’” — William  Bernard 
Ullaihorne. 

“Glad  in  the  H  ouse  of  God, 

Upon  his  holy  day, 

We  lift  our  hearts  in  song, 

His  wondrous  praises  say; 

And  while  we  sing,  he  hears, 

And  when  the  song  is  done. 

Oh,  very,  very  near  he  seems 
To  every  listening  one. 

“Low  in  the  Llouse  of  God 
Upon  his  peaceful  day, 

With  bended  heads  we  kneel 
Our  earnest  prayers  to  say; 

And  while  we  pray,  he  hears, 

And  close,  so  close,  he  comes 
That  all  the  way  he  walks  with  us 
Back  to  our  happy  homes.” 

*  • — Nancy  Byrd  Turner. 


Ptapet  foe  t§e  SDap:  “We  thank  thee,  heavenly  Father,  for  all  the  mer¬ 
cies  of  thy  holy  day;  for  rest  and  refreshment  of  body  and  soul,  for  the 
privilege  of  united  worship,  for  the  teaching  of  thy  holy  Word,  for  our 
fellowship  one  with  another  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  in  his  church. 
May  thy  Holy  Spirit  sanctify  all  that  we  have  learned  or  said  or  done  in  thy 
name  this  day;  and  grant  that  during  the  coming  week  we  may  show  forth 
our  thankfulness  to  thee  by  giving  up  ourselves  to  thy  service  and  by  glorify¬ 
ing  thee  in  our  daily  lives,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.”  Amen. — 
A.  F.  Thornhill. 


378 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS 


PAGE 

Abiding  in  Christ .  319 

Acknowledging  God  in  All  Our  Ways.  289 
All  I  hings  Work  Together  for  Good, 

Fhe  Faith  That .  21 1 

Alone,  Willing  to  Stand .  155 

Apostolic  Labors  and  Sacrifice,  The..  175 

Approved  Unto  God .  288 

Armistice  Day .  371 

Armor  of  God,  Clad  With  the .  132 

Associations,  Avoiding  Evil .  287 

Attaining  the  Full  Stature  of  Man¬ 
hood  .  8 

Attempting  Great  Things  for  God...  12 

Bearing  the  Image  of  God . 290 

Beauty  of  Nature,  The .  161 

Bible  as  a  Source  of  Personal  Power, 

.The .  3 

Bible  as  the  Word  of  God,  The .  208 

Birth  of  a  Child,  The .  374 

Blessedness  of  Christ’s  Disciples,  The  342 
Blessedness  of  the  Eternal  Life,  The.  338 

Blessings  of  Labor,  The .  339 

Blessings,  Thankfulness  for  Daily.  .  .  164 

Bread  from  Heaven,  The . 344 

Bread  of  Life,  Christ  the .  114 

Brotherhood,  Peace  With .  184 

Brotherhood,  Universal .  182 

Brotherly  Kindness,  The  Christian 

Duty  of .  190 

Brotherly  Love .  189 

Burden  Upon  the  Lord,  Casting  Our.  216 
Burdens  Blessings,  Making  Our .  217 

Care  for  the  Poor  and  Needy .  239 

Care,  God’s  Protecting .  197 

Care  in  Nature,  God’s .  198 

Care,  The  Shepherd’s .  218 

Care  Upon  God,  Casting  Our .  315 

Character  God  Requires,  The .  7 

Character  of  Christ,  The .  1 1 5 

Character  of  God,  The .  104 

Charity  and  Love  for  All .  268 

Charity,  The  Grace  of. .  355 

Cheerfulness,  The  Spirit  of .  89 

Childhood,  Ministry  to .  240 

Children  to  Jesus,  Bringing  the .  54 

Christ,  Abiding  in .  319 

Christ  as  the  Highest  Truth .  6 

Christ  as  the  Way .  219 

Christ,  Conquerors  Through .  11 

Christ,  Contemplation  of  the  Life 

and  Character  of .  1 1 7 

Christ,  Doing  the  Work  of . .  130 


PAGE 

Christ,  Faith  in .  221 

Christ,  Fellowship  With .  247 

Christ,  Friendship  With .  248 

Christ,  Giving  All  for .  13 1 

Christ,  Having  the  Mind  of .  9 

Christ,  Likeness  to .  32 

Christ,  Love  to .  10 

Christ,  Our  Burden  Bearer .  99 

Christ,  Our  Judge .  84 

Christ  Standing  at  the  Door .  291 

Christ,  The  Riches  of .  98 

Christ,  The  Bread  of  Life .  114 

Christ,  The  Character  of .  115 

Christ,  The  Ever  Present .  250 

Christ,  The  Good  Shepherd . 335 

Christ,  The  Light  of  the  World .  113 

Christ,  The  Remembrance  of .  323 

Christ,  The  Resurrection  of .  225 

Christ,  The  Revelation  Through.  .  .  .  222 

Christ  With  Us .  246 

Christian  Character,  A  More .  133 

Christian  Courage .  152 

Christian  Living,  Rules  for .  129 

Christmas  Day . 359,  373 

Christ’s  Kingdom,  The  Sure  Triumph 

of .  194 

Church  of  Christ,  The .  223 

Church  of  Christ,  The  World  Mis¬ 
sion  of  the .  128 

Church,  Prayer  for  the .  4 

City  of  God,  The .  38 

Comfort,  The  Ministry  of .  237 

Coming  of  the  Kingdom  of  God .  39 

Common  Joys  of  Life,  The .  163 

Common  Task,  The  Significance  of 

the .  127 

Communing  With  Christ .  118 

Communion  of  Saints,  The .  337 

Communion  With  God .  242 

Conduct,  Honoring  God  by  Our .  283 

Confession  of  Our  Sins .  297 

Confidence  in  God .  200 

Conformed  to  the  World,  Being  Not.  270 

Conscience  Void  of  Offense,  A . 286 

Consecration  to  God,  Entire .  124 

Consecration  to  Lowly  Service .  125 

Contemplation  of  the  Life  and  Char¬ 
acter  of  Christ .  117 

Contented  Spirit,  Possessing  a .  97 

Contentment  With  One’s  Lot .  61 

Control  of  the  Temper .  285 

Correction,  The  Divine .  62 

Counsel  of  God,  The  Unfailing .  260 

Country,  Our .  52 


379 


PAGE 


Courage  and  Strength .  151 

Courage,  Christian .  152 


Courage,  The  Need  for . 

Courageous  Effort . 

Cross,  The  Meaning  of  the . 

Crucifixion,  The  Day  of  the . 

Daily  Work,  Diligence  in . 

Daring  Spirit,  Possessing  a . 

Death  in  the  Home,  After  a . 

Dedication  of  Sell  to  God . 

Dedication  of  the  Will  to  God . 

Deliverance  from  All  Evil . 

Deliverance  from  Our  Sins . 

Deliverance  Through  Divine  Help. .  . 

Departing  on  a  Journey,  When . 

Dependence  Upon  God,  Our . 

Desire  for  a  Fuller  Life . 

Despair  of  Us,  God  Will  Not . 

Devoted  to  God  and  His  Service, 

Wholly . . 

Devotion  to  Right . 

Diligence  in  Daily  Work . 

Discipline,  The  Divine . 

Divine  Correction,  The . 

Divine  Direction  of  Our  Lives . 

Divine  Guidance . 

Divine  Illumination . 

Doing  as  Well  as  We  Know . 

Doing  Good . 

Doing  the  Work  of  Christ . 

Doing  the  Work  of  God . 

Duty,  The  Path  of . 

Easter  Sunday . 

Effort,  Courageous . 

Eternal  Life,  The  Blessedness  of  the. 

Everyday  Life,  Heroism  in . 

Evil  Associations,  Avoiding . 

Failure,  The  Possible  Service  of . 

Faith  in  Christ . 

Faith  of  Mighty  Men,  The . 

Faith,  Perfecting  Our . 

Faith  That  All  Things  Work  To¬ 
gether  for  Good,  The . 

Faith,  The  Importance  of . 

Faith,  Unconquerable . 

Family  United  in  God’s  Service,  The. 

Father’s  Love  and  Mercy,  The . 

Fear,  Deliverance  From . 

Fellowship,  The  Blessing  of  Christian 
Fellowship  With  God,  Living  in  Con¬ 
stant  . 

Fellowship  With  God  in  Labor . 

Fervor,  The  Need  for  Religious . 

Finding  Our  Rest  in  God . 

Forbearance,  The  Grace  of . 

Forgiveness,  The  Blessing  of. . 

Forgiveness,  Our  Need  of . 

Founders  of  Our  Nation,  The . 

Free  from  the  Dominion  of  Sin . 

Freedom,  The  Growing  Spirit  of.  .  .  . 
Friendship,  The  Blessing  of  Christian 
Love  and . 


PAGE 


Friend  to  All,  A .  360 

Fruits  of  the  Spirit .  34 

Fullness  of  the  Spirit,  The .  140 

Gentleness,  The  Virtue  of .  21 

Gifts,  Diversities  of .  210 

Gifts  of  God,  The .  32 7 

Glory  of  God,  Living  to  the .  120 

God  as  the  Supreme  Being .  71 

God  by  Our  Conduct,  Honoring .  283 

God,  Casting  Our  Care  Upon .  315 

God,  Confidence  in .  200 

God,  Filled  With  the  Fullness  of.  ...  31 

God,  Finding  Our  Rest  in .  19 

God,  Finding  Our  Satisfaction  in  ... .  101 

God  in  Our  Hearts .  243 

God  Is  Good .  165 

God,  Listening  to .  75 

God,  Living  for .  43 

God,  Living  in  Constant  Fellowship 

With . .  1 6 

God,  Living  to  the  Glory  of .  120 

God,  Our  Dependence  Upon .  199 

God,  Our  Divine  Shepherd .  307 

God,  Our  Fortress .  201 

God,  Our  Keeper .  348 

God,  Our  Leader .  63 

God,  Our  Light .  166 

God,  Our  Lives  in  the  Hand  of. .  314 

God,  Our  Refuge .  107 

God,  Our  Sufficiency  is  of .  306 

God,  Possessing .  349 

God,  Reasons  for  Praising .  326 

God  Seeking  Us . 169 

God,  The  Character  of .  104 

God,  The  Constant  Presence  of .  80 

God,  The  Goodness  of .  350 

God,  The  Greatness  of .  79 

God,  The  Immanent .  105 

God,  The  Love  of .  no 

God,  The  Loving  Kindness  of .  167 

God,  The  Unchanging .  78 

God,  The  Unfailing  Counsel  of. . 260 

God,  The  Universal  Rule  of .  106 

God,  The  Vanity  of  Opposing .  81 

God’s  Care  in  Nature .  198 

God’s  Favor  the  Source  of  Our  Joy. .  92 

God’s  Hand  Upon  Us .  82 

God’s  House,  The  Joys  of .  96 

God’s  Knowledge  of  Us .  313 

God’s  Law  of  Increase .  51 

God’s  Love  for  Us .  352 

God’s  Protecting  Care .  197 

God’s  Righteous  Will.  . .  207 

God’s  Will  for  the  Nation .  312 

God’s  Will  To-day,  Doing .  273 

Godliness,  The  Security  of .  318 

Good,  Doing .  65 

Goodness  in  Others,  Inspiring .  36 

Gospel,  The  Appeal  of  the .  149 

Gospel  of  Christ,  The .  171 

Gospel,  The  Purpose  of  the .  m 

Grace  Sufficient  for  Our  Needs,  God’s  347 

Graces  of  a  Christian  Life,  The . 282 

Great  Things,  He  Hath  Done .  358 


22 

153 
224 

368 

142 

154 
377 
119 

64 

15 
304 

324 

376 

199 

28 

229 

18 

M3 

142 

83 

62 

209 

227 
102 

4i 

65 
130 
272 
263 

369 

i53 

338 

156 

287 

228 
221 
259 

14 

21 1 

230 

231 

56 

333 

213 

100 

16 
245 

17 

19 

68 

336 

295 

53 

309 

193 


251 


38° 


PAGE 


Growth  in  Grace .  33 

Guidance,  Divine .  227 


Heart,  A  Contrite .  293 

Heart,  A  Song  in  the .  91 

Heart,  Our  Need  of  a  Pure .  25 

Heart,  The  Need  for  a  Clean .  296 

Heart,  Warmth  of .  74 

Hearts  With  All  Diligence,  Keeping 

Our .  279 

Heavenly  Home,  The .  233 

Heavenly  Mindedness .  262 

Helpful  Life,  Living  a .  356 

Heroism  in  Everyday  Life .  156 

Holy  Life,  Desire  for  a .  26 

Holy  Spirit,  The  Gift  of  the .  172 

Holy  Spirit,  The  Presence  of  the.  .  .  .  253 

Home,  A  Religions .  278 

Home,  Thankfulness  for .  331 

Home,  The  Christian .  55 

Honesty,  The  Duty  of .  66 

Honoring  God  by  Our  Conduct . 283 

Honoring  God  by  Our  Lives .  121 

Hopeful  and  Courageous  Spirit,  A.  .  .  203 

House,  The  Joys  of  God’s .  96 

Human  Life,  The  Dignity  and  Worth 

of .  86 

Human  Welfare  and  Justice .  87 

Humility  of  Spirit .  299 


Ideals,  Being  True  to  Our .  42 

Illumination,  Divine .  102 

Image  of  God,  Bearing  the .  291 

Immanent  God,  The .  105 

Immortality,  Our .  232 

Increase,  God’s  Law  of .  51 

Influence  of  Goodness,  The .  346 

Ingratitude,  The  Sin  of .  302 

Inspiration  from  God,  Our .  170 

Intercession,  The  Ministry  of .  148 

Jesus,  Bringing  the  Children  to .  54 

Jesus,  Sharing  the  Sacrifice  of. .  147 

Journey,  When  Departing  on  a . 376 

Joy  and  Gladness .  88 

Joy  in  God,  The  Christian’s .  93 

Joy  in  Life,  The .  90 

Joy  of  the  Simple  Life,  The .  95 

Joy  of  Service,  The .  94 


Kind,  The  Simple  Art  of  Being .  361 

Kingdom  of  God,  Coming  of  the.  ...  39 

Kingdom  of  God,  Seeking  First  the. .  139 

Kingdom  of  God,  The .  176 

Knowing  Our  Own  Hearts .  292 

Knowledge  of  God,  The .  266 

Knowledge  of  Us,  God’s .  313 

Labor  Day .  370 

Labor,  The  Blessing  of .  339 

Labor,  The  Meaning  and  Worth  of.  .  244 

Labor,  Fellowship  With  God  in . 245 

Lack  of  Fervent  Piety,  Our .  305 

Leader,  God  Our .  63 

Life  a  Plan  of  God,  Every .  265 

381 


PAGE 


Life,  Desire  for  a  Fuller .  28 

Life  Eternal,  Living  the .  146 

Life  in  Christ,  Newness  of .  1 

Life  in  Christ,  The  New .  195 

Life  That  is  the  Light  of  Men,  The. .  196 

Life,  The  More  Abundant .  35 

Light,  God  Our .  166 

Light,  God  the  Eternal .  311 

Light  in  the  Evening  of  Life .  320 

Light  of  the  World,  Christ  the .  113 

Lives  in  the  Hand  of  God,  Our .  314 

Living  at  One’s  Best .  277 

Living  at  Peace  With  All  Men .  183 

Living  for  God .  43 

Living  in  Constant  Fellowship  With 

God .  16 

Living  the  Life  Eternal .  146 

Living  to  the  Glory  of  God .  120 

Longing  for  God,  Our .  256 

Love  and  Friendship,  The  Blessing  of  251 

Love  as  the  Way  to  God .  177 

Love,  Brotherly .  189 

Love  for  Our  Neighbors .  357 

Love  for  Us,  God’s .  352 

Love  in  Daily  Life .  363 

Love  of  God,  The.  .  .  . .  no 

Love,  Religion  as .  60 

Love,  The  Grace  of .  362 

Love,  The  Service  of .  44 

Love,  the  Supreme  Gift .  332 

Love  to  Christ .  10 

Love  Triumphant .  214 

Loving  Kindness  of  God,  The .  167 

Lord’s  Supper,  The .  109 

Lowly  Service,  The  Worth  of .  354 

Lowly  Spirit,  A .  303 

Loyalty  to  the  Truth .  67 


Material,  The  Mastery  of  the .  48 

Meekness,  The  Spirit  of . 280 

Mercy,  The  Spirit  of .  236 

Memoriam,  In .  150 

Might,  Working  With  Our .  144 

Mind  of  Christ,  Having  the .  9 

Ministry,  The  Work  of  the .  341 

Ministry  to  the  Poor  and  Oppressed .  187 
Missions  (The  Coming  of  the  King¬ 
dom  of  God) .  39 

Missions  (The  World  Mission  of  the 

Church  of  Christ) .  128 

Mis'sion  to  the  Nations,  Our .  192 


Nation  as  a  Christian  State,  Our.  .  .  .  186 


Nation,  God’s  Will  for  the .  312 

Nation,  Prayer  for  the .  37 

Nation,  The  Founders  of  Our .  53 

National  Welfare .  185 

Nature,  A  Lesson  of  Trust  from .  308 

Nature,  Fellowship  With .  162 

Nature,  The  Beauty  of .  161 

Need  for  Strength,  Our .  23 

Neighbors,  Love  for  Our .  357 

Newness  of  Life  in  Christ .  1 

New  Year’s  Day .  366 

Nobility  of  Spirit .  20 


Omission,  Our  Sins  of . 

Overcoming  the  World . 

Pain  and  Sorrow,  The  Ministry  of. .  . 

Palm  Sunday . 

Patience,  The  Grace  of . 

Patience  With  Us,  God’s . 

Peace,  Possessing . 

Peace,  The  Blessing  of . 

Peace  Which  Passeth  Understanding. 

Peace  With  Brotherhood . 

Perils  of  Wealth,  The . 

Perils  of  Riches,  The . 

Piety,  Our  Lack  of  Fervent . 

Pity,  The  Divine . 

Plan  of  God,  Every  Life  a . 

Poor  and  Oppressed,  Ministry  to  the. 
Power  for  Hours  of  Trial,  Latent..  .  . 
Power  of  a  Determined  Will,  The.  .  . 

Praise,  Nature’s  Call  to . 

Praising  God,  Reasons  for . 

Pray,  Learning  to . 

Prayer  as  a  Means  of  Service . 

Prayer  as  Fellowship  With  God . 

Prayer  for  the  Church . 

Prayer  for  the  Nation . 

Prayer,  Help  Available  Through.  .  .  . 
Prayer,  Maintaining  the  Spirit  ol. .  .  . 
Prayer,  Strength  from  God  Through. 

Prayer,  The  Achievements  of . 

Presence  of  God,  The  Constant . 

Pride,  Ridding  Ourselves  of . 

Purity  of  Speech . 

Purpose,  Possessed  by  a  Great . 

Refuge  from  Trouble . 

Religion  as  Love . 

Religion  in  the  Family . 

Religious  Experience,  Deeper . 

Repentance,  Our  Need  of . 

Resignation  to  the  Will  of  God . 

Rest  in  God,  Finding  Our . 

Rest,  The  Haven  of . 

Resurrection  of  Christ,  The . 

Revelation  Through  Christ,  The.  .  .  . 

Riches  of  Christ,  The . 

Riches,  The  Perils  of . 

Right,  Devotion  to . 

Righteous  Dwell  in  Safety,  The . 

Righteous,  The  Blessedness  of  the.  .. 

Righteous,  The  Security  of  the . 

Rule  of  God,  The  Universal . 

Rules  for  Christian  Living . 

Sacrament  of  Remembrance,  The.  .  . 

Sacrifice  of  Jesus,  Sharing  the . 

Satisfaction  in  God,  Finding  Our.  .  .  . 

Scriptures,  Search  the . 

Security  of  Godliness,  The . 

Security  of  the  Righteous,  The . 

Seeing  Eye,  The . 

Seeking  First  the  Kingdom  of  God .  . 

Seeking  Us,  God . 

Self-Sacrifice,  The  Spirit  of . 

Servant,  The  Divine . 


PAGE  PAGE 

298  Service  as  a  Way  to  God .  364 

50  Service,  Christ’s  Law  of .  179 

Service,  Consecration  to  Lowly .  125 

215  Service  of  Others,  the  Supreme  Good.  180 

367  Service,  The  Worth  of  Lowly .  354 

69  Service,  Whole-hearted.  .  .  .  . .  135 

334  Shepherd,  Christ  the  Good .  335 

258  Shepherd,  God  Our  Divine .  307 

322  Shepherd’s  Care,  The .  218 

257  Sickness,  In  a  Time  of .  375 

184  Simple  Life,  The  Joy  of  the .  95 

47  Sin,  Free  from  the  Dominion  of .  309 

301  Sins,  Confession  of  Our .  297 

305  Sins,  Deliverance  from  Our .  304 

351  Sins,  Putting  Away  Our .  275 

265  Social  Contacts,  Spiritualizing  Our.  .  138 

187  Social  Justice .  353 

343  Social  Justice,  The  Christian  Duty  of  191 
158  Social  Solidarity  of  Humanity,  The..  181 

160  Social  Wrongs  and  Injustice .  238 

326  Song  in  the  Heart,  A .  91 

2  Sorrow,  The  Ministry  of  Pain  and.  . .  215 
276  Soul’s  Thirst  and  Its  Satisfaction, 

241  The .  5 

4  Speech,  Purity  of .  24 

37  Spirit  of  Mercy,  The .  236 

205  Spirit,  The  Fullness  of  the .  140 

108  Spirit,  The  Indwelling .  254 

206  Spirit,  The  Presence  and  Help  of  the.  321 

310  Spirits,  Ruling  Our  Own .  274 

80  Spiritual  Life,  Living  a .  137 

300  Spiritual  Mind,  The .  27 

24  Spiritual  Renewal .  30 

49  Spiritualizing  Our  Social  Contacts.  .  .  138 

Standard  of  Values,  The  Christian...  45 
202  Stature  of  Manhood,  Attaining  the..  8 

60  Steadfastness .  157 

145  Strength  from  God  Through  Prayer..  206 

29  Strength,  Courage  and .  151 

294  Strength,  Our  Need  for .  23 

126  Strength,  The  Renewal  of .  173 

19  Sufficiency  Is  of  God,  Our .  306 

174  Sunday,  For  Any .  378 

225  Supper,  The  Lord’s .  109 

222  Sympathy  for  His  Children,  God’s..  .  234 

98  Sympathy  With  Others .  235 

301 

143  Task,  A,  God-Appointed .  267 

317  Task,  Our  Daily . 40 

261  Temper,  Control  of  the .  285 

204  Temple  of  God,  The  Building  of  the.  212 

106  Temptation,  Resistance  to . 269 

129  Thankfulness  for  Daily  Blessings..  ..  164 

Thankfulness  for  Home .  331 

249  Thankfulness  for  the  Blessings  of 

147  Life .  329 

101  Thankfulness,  The  Spirit  of .  328 

58  Thanksgiving  Day .  372 

318  Thanksgiving  for  All  of  God’s  Gifts..  330 

204  Thirst  for  God,  The  Soul’s .  70 

76  Time,  The  Wise  Use  of .  264 

139  To-day,  Doing  God’s  Will .  273 

169  To-day,  Making  the  Most  ol .  136 

178  Trouble,  Refuge  from .  202 

1 16  True  to  Our  Ideals,  Being .  42 

382 


PAGE 


Trust  from  Nature,  A  Lesson  of .  308 

Truth,  Christ  as  the  Highest .  6 

Truth,  Loyalty  to  the .  67 

Unchanging  God,  The .  78 

Uncomplaining  Spirit,  An .  325 

Unconquerable  Spirit,  An .  159 

Unity  of  Believers  in  Christ,  The..  ..  252 
Used  of  God,  Being .  141 

Value  of  Wisdom,  The .  226 

Values,  The  Christian  Standard  of...  45 

Vanity  of  Opposing  God,  The .  81 

Vision  of  the  Most  High,  A .  103 

Vision,  The  Heavenly .  77 

Warmth  of  Heart .  74 

Weight,  Laying  Aside  Every .  123 

Wholehearted  Service .  135 

Wholly  Devoted  to  God  and  His 

Service .  18 

Will  Be  Done,  Thy .  73 

Will,  God’s  Righteous .  207 

Will  of  God,  Doing  the .  284 

Will  of  God,  Resignation  to  the .  126 


PAGE 


Will,  The  Power  of  a  Determined.  .  .  158 

Will  To-day,  Doing  God’s .  273 

Will  to  God,  Dedication  of  the .  64 

Wisdom,  Seeking .  13 

Wisdom,  The  Satisfactions  of .  345 

Wisdom,  The  Value  of .  226 

Wisdom,  The  Voice  of .  281 

Witnesses,  God’s .  271 

Word,  Devotion  to  God’s .  57 

Word  of  God,  The  Bible  as .  208 

Work  as  Unto  the  Lord,  Doing  Our.  122 
Work,  The  Spirit  of  Christ  in  Our 

Daily.  . . 255 

Work  of  Christ,  Doing  the.  .  . .  130 

Work  of  God,  Doing  the .  272 

Work,  The  Blessedness  of  an  Ap¬ 
pointed  .  340 

Work  Together  for  Good,  All  Things.  316 

Working  With  Our  Might .  144 

Workmanship,  Ourselves  as  His .  85 

Worship  of  God,  The .  72 

Worship,  Time  for .  59 

Year,  The  Close  of  the .  365 

Zeal  for  the  Work  of  God,  Greater..  134 


383 


Date  Due 

r  2  6  *4® 

Ji  2?  ’in 

JY  Q  .  n; 

J|f 

. — - 

M*u 

IP 

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* 

